"She didn't speak for me. Now she does"

[CatWoman]

Lieurance leaves behind his wife, Penny, and four children, two sons and daughters.

Both his parents said their son's death makes their once-wavering opinions about the war in Iraq much more clear.

Andre Lieurance referred to Cindy Sheehan, the California mother of a slain soldier, who recently camped out in front of President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, in opposition to the war.

"She didn't speak for me. Now she does," the father told The Knoxville News Sentinel on Tuesday. "I'm with her. I believe we were lied to. (My son) did what he was supposed to. Bush didn't."

"It's a bad war; it's a stupid war," said his mother, Karen Lieurance. "I questioned it from Day One. I think it's a lot easier to support the president when you don't have a family member over there."

Three other members of the Knoxville-based 278th were killed last week, bringing to nine the number in the unit who have died while serving in Iraq. About 4,000 members of the 278th deployed last November.


http://www.southernstandard.net/news.ez?viewStory=20000

[deadparrot]

1. Heartbreaking that it had to come to this.

My stomach hurts just thinking about it. :cry:

[knowbody0]

2. dominos falling

can you hear them?

[flamin lib]

4. Those aren't dominos. They're soldiers. nt

[knowbody0]

5. im speaking of the war mongering administration

and its withering mandate

[flamin lib]

7. My bad. Absolutely right about the weakening misadministration. nt

[knowbody0]

9. thanks, i would never disrespect fallen soldiers

[Midlodemocrat]

3. It is unfortunate that they had to endure a personal loss

before they stated that Cindy spoke for them.

How much longer must this go on?

[sniffa]

17. it's sad, but necessary

:(

[pacalo]

6. I remember a father who had lost his son in the Iraq war right after

it started. He was standing with his daughters outside his house as the tv camera rolled, crying with anger, & said something to the effect, "George Bush, you took away my only son!"

I sure would like to know how he's doing & what he must be thinking now that it's a fact that this war was based on lies & deceit.

[KansDem]

18. Could the father be this one, by chance?

Waters-Bey’s parents and sisters, like most African Americans, oppose the war, and it’s probable that he did not share the White House’s contention that Saddam Hussein was an immediate threat to the United States. Nevertheless, Waters-Bey went to Iraq, because, he is quoted as telling his wife, “I gotta do what I gotta do.” However, Waters-Bey had concerns about the Vietnam-era helicopters he was responsible for maintaining, and old age had been blamed for several recent crashes of the 35- to 40-year-old helicopters.

Michael Waters-Bey, Kendall’s father, did not react like the average military father who learns that his son has died in the line of duty. With news cameras rolling, Waters-Bey launched into a blistering criticism of Commander in Chief George Bush Jr. and his decision to go to war against Iraq, saying that Bush could have resolved his differences with Saddam without sacrificing his son’s life.

Staring into the cameras and holding a picture of his son, Michael Waters-Bey told reporters, “I want President Bush to get a good look at this, really good. Look here. This is the only son I had, only son.” When asked what he would say to Bush if given the opportunity, Michael Waters-Bey said, “This was not your son or daughter. That chair he sat in at Thanksgiving will be empty forever.”

Kendall Waters-Bey’s 10-year-old son can also be seen on the news tape, staring straight into the camera and then breaking into tears. Bey’s wife, who is in the Navy, knew that her husband had died almost as soon as film clips of the crash hit the airways because she recognized the copter’s ID number in the wreckage."

http://sfbayview.com/032603/casualty032603.shtml

I ask only because I remember this story so well. It was a very emotional read and that statement That chair he sat in at Thanksgiving will be empty forever will always be burned in my brain.

[sunnystarr]

20. Thanks for the link

It's too bad that the majority of people won't see it or read the other important issue it details .. here's a sample for those who don't click on the links:

The reason I fear that most of my friends won't hear about Kendell Waters-Bey is that his father and sisters had the courage to question President Bush's decision to send his son and many other people's sons and daughters to a war that could have been avoided.

Surveys show that most people get their news from radio and that the majority of African Americans tune in to one of four Clear Channel stations or to Black owned KBLX during drive time, 5-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. These commercial stations feature little if any on-air discussion of serious news issues concerning Black people, and issues like Waters-Bey's death would not receive any coverage other than a 20 second news item.

Any in-depth discussion or analysis of Waters-Bey's death would probably not happen on any of the four Bay Area Clear Channel stations most African Americans listen to. Clear Channel has not hidden its support for the war and has fired on-air personnel who have raised issues that conflict with its "We Love America" philosophy.

[pacalo]

22. That's the one! I'm impressed that you found that.

The father's gutwrenching pain had an effect on me & is ingrained in my memory.

Thank you for finding the article, Kans. :)

[Hobarticus]

8. Why must they wait to get a folded flag before they speak out?

I don't understand this. Not at all.

[wtmusic]

10. "I think it's a lot easier to support the president

when you don't have a family member over there." Translation: "I think it's a lot easier to send other mom's kids to die than my own."

wtf are people thinking.

[ronnykmarshall]

11. Why do they hate 'murica?

They had an agenda from the start!

They are dishonoring their son.

They are hurting the "moral" of the troops!


Just wanted to throw in the talking points for the lurking freepers to drool over.

[dogday]

12. Cindy has given these parents somewhere to

go to vent their anger and disgust at this war.

[ronnykmarshall]

13. Pretty amazing coming from East Tenn.

These poor people.


You can feel their pain and their anger in that article.

[Tsiyu]

15. Knoxville is home to a few colleges and universities

Not just a holler no more....

http://www.utk.edu/

http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/newcomers/colleges.asp

[Javaman]

14. I wish these people would come out BEFORE their kids are killed...

now that would be something.

I'm sorry for her loss.

colossal failure*

[writes2000]

19. They may be scared for their kids. Think about it...

Who is to say that this administration wouldn't punish the servicemen and women for the actions of their families?

I think this concern is much bigger than we realize.

[lostnfound]

16. Rest in peace, Sgt. Lieurance.

And may your parents be given both peace and courage to speak the truth loudly.

[Stockholm]

21. Haven´t these families suffered enough - where are the pol. leaders?

sigh...