A new method of suicide; Iraq

[LynnTheDem]

A Florida man killed in Baghdad, Iraq, will be buried next to his wife today in Sumrall where she was raised.

Benjamin K. "Ben" Hodges, 52, of Niceville died July 6 while working as an unexploded ordinance quality control specialist with USA Environmental Inc.

"We really don't know much about it," said Pete Strickland of Sumrall, Hodges' father-in-law. "He was over there doing demolition work. They told us he was hit in the head with shrapnel and died instantly."

Hodges' wife, Linda Strickland Hodges, died in December following a long illness, her father said.

"He came up and told me and my dad, 'I'm going to Iraq. I ain't got nothing left,' " said Michael Strickland, Linda Hodges' brother.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050715/NEWS01/507150309/1002

[stellanoir]

1. So sad

we hear so little of the "contractors" or the civilian Iraqi's deaths or even the military deaths in Afghanistan for that matter.

Thank goodness for persistant posters of the truth like you Lynn.

The truth will come out over time.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. How horrible

:( George W. Bush- ruining lives in America and the world. Could you be next?

[Djinn]

4. don't know if I can blame George for this one

every single person that makes the choice to be a mercenary in Iraq knows the dangers fine well (those huge salaries aren't just because it's hot) this guy chose this.

If he'd chosen to put a shotty in his mouth it wouldn't be Bush's fault so I can't see this as his fault either

[ugarte]

3. "Suicide by Iraq"

Probably more than a few of these.