Father honored son's memory by re-enlisting, serving in Iraq

[babylonsister]

Father honored son's memory by re-enlisting, serving in Iraq
By CHRIS VAUGHN


FORT WORTH — Five months into his Iraqi deployment, when the same old, same old can turn into complacency, Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco T. Martinez asked for a few minutes with Alpha Flight.

It was Dec. 15, the day before his only son would have turned 24 had he not been gunned down by a sniper on a street in Ramadi almost four years before.

"You may never get the thanks and validation you so deserve from your superiors or from our Army and Air Force brothers and sisters," Martinez told the assembled airmen at the base in Kirkuk.

"But know that, I, Francisco Martinez, software engineer and military parent, along with thousands of other relatives, friends and loved ones of those you protect, thank you with all our collective strength."

Martinez, known by friends and family as Paco, is one of the thousands of parents who have lost a son or daughter in the war in Iraq. Army Spc. Francisco G. Martinez, 20, an Eastern Hills High School graduate and a member of the 2nd Infantry Division, was killed March 20, 2005, by a single shot to the back.

But Paco Martinez, 44, who served during the first Gulf War, made an unusual decision after his son’s death: He re-enlisted in the Air Force, as a way of honoring his son’s decision and coping with his death.

more...

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1194540.html

[Cid_B]

1. Motherf'ing awesome...

That fellow has a beer waiting for him in a lot of bars around the world.

[renate]

2. I remember when this guy left

So glad he got back safely. What a loving father and brave man.

The end of that article is bittersweet.

[Cid_B]

3. What the hell..

I'd like to note that this article has 2 responses ( now 3 ) and the most replied to thread right now is "What do you think about porn?"

Seriously.. just... damn

I need a drink...

[gratuitous]

4. You probably wouldn't like my response

So I figured I'd keep my thoughts to myself on this one.

[4 t 4]

5. That's why I

didn't post I don't think it would be helpful in any way sorry.