If they can't determin what the cause of death is (yeah, right) then what is wrong with puting his name on the wall and cosidering him a casualty of the war in Iraq? Sounds to me like it could have been a brain anurism caused from the head injury.
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Wow! This is a tough one. I mean, no doubt the soldier was severely wounded in action. Why would we doubt the M.E. finding of undetermined death? They get no benefit from keeping a name off the casualty list.
Of course his death is directly related to his injuries. It wasn't suicide, it wasn't homicide, and it came after he'd had a serious brain injury and facial reconstructive surgery. My son had a serious brain injury a couple of years ago. He'd jumped off some bleachers and suffered a tiny tear in a vein in his head. Over two days later he's sitting on a Metro train and all of a sudden gets a headache to beat the band. The CT scans showed a brain saturated with blood and he spent two weeks in the hospital. The doctors told me if the kid had suffered an arterial bleed instead of a veinous bleed he would have been dead in his seat. I'm just saying, there are plenty of reasons to suspect this young soldier had a ruptured blood vessel due to his injuries. For crying out loud, it's outrageous that these bureaucratic bums are denying him his rightful spot on that wall.
God bless and empower that Mom who is fighting for her son. That young man gave his life for this country and he deserves to be recognized by it for his sacrifice and his heroism. Keep fighting for him.
Joan McDonald, of Neenah, has no doubts about her son's death. "If my son was not at the war, he would not be dead, plain and simple," she said. "He was a strong healthy boy. ... Don't tell me it was unrelated to the war. I will never accept that."
Good point. It's highly unlikely. Knowing the battle she is now going to have to wage for clear answers, I am very sad for her... it doesn't need to be this way and it shouldn't be this way.
Joan, Was your son decorated with the Purple Heart recognition. Sounds as if he should have received this medal! Perhaps you should seek the National MOPH, for support and assistance with your efforts! Many of these G.I.s are sustaining injuries undetected....I would definitely seek justice and recognition for your Beloved Warrior! My prayers are with you, for your loss and this Nation's loss. May your faith bring you strength and help to fortify your resolve to show Honor for your Family's SACRIFICE! Please feel free to PM me; if you care to dialog! We Care, this Nation is grieving with you!
God Speed!
God Bless Our Troops, Our Veterans, Our World Leaders, & America!
Respectfully, Christina Finn The "Pillow MOM!"
"I have learned that in order to bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try. Each and everyone of us can make a difference." Rosa Parks
Originally posted by psycho37f: Wow! This is a tough one. I mean, no doubt the soldier was severely wounded in action. Why would we doubt the M.E. finding of undetermined death? They get no benefit from keeping a name off the casualty list.
It is my understanding that in the event of death, veteran benefits passed on to families are determined by the manner of death; not to mention the recognition of this soldier's sacrifice to his country.
Bottom line: Politicians downplaying the effects of this war and trying to save a buck to put in their own pockets.
My heart goes out to her for her loss, but I can't see him being listed as KIA. Sorry but he was not in the AOR, or in action at the time of his death (thus Killed in Action). Should his name go onto the wall that he helped build, hell yes. KIA....No
It does matter about the cause of death. This soldier was killed in Iraq as surely as the other 4000 plus. It matters because of benefits for those killed in action verses those who died in a hospital in CONUS. It is the least then nation can do for one our fallen heros. Had he not been exposed to the roadside bomb, he would be alive today. PLEASE GIVE THIS FAMILY A BREAK
I had a son & my husband serve in Iraq at the same time. I believe Tramatic Brain Injuries are going to have a tremdous impact on this generation of soldiers & their families. We are living proof, we live with it daily! I believe this Mother is correct in her assessment of this situation and I wish her the best in her fight for that belief!
I do believe that the family should get an answert as to the cause of his death, but I find it very unlikely that it is related to the war injury since he has been treated for 6 months now as well as the facial surgery not 2 months ago. While he should be remembered as a veteran and treated as such, I do not believe he should be considered a casualty of the war if it turns out that his death was not caused by the war injury. In the mean time I offer my sympathy and condolensces to the family in their time of mourning.
My heart goes out to this family and friends who are grieving the death of a loved one. But sympathy aside, YES, this soldier should be listed as a casualty of war. He wasn't Killed in Action (KIA) only because he didn't die in the combat zone. But it certainly sounds like his death 6 months after being seriously wounded in the combat zone was a direct result of those wounds. It's a dam shame that a grieving mother must now fight a few bureaucrats, probably those who were never in combat themselves, for the proper honor for her son! To that mother, don't ever give up. Hold news conferences. Find out the individuals who are denying proper honor to your son and publish their names. Keep on your Congressman and both U.S. Senators. Write to the President. Keep the pressure on and someday your son will receive the honor he absolutely deserves!
Originally posted by Chief505: My heart goes out to this family and friends who are grieving the death of a loved one. But sympathy aside, YES, this soldier should be listed as a casualty of war. He wasn't Killed in Action (KIA) only because he didn't die in the combat zone. But it certainly sounds like his death 6 months after being seriously wounded in the combat zone was a direct result of those wounds. It's a dam shame that a grieving mother must now fight a few bureaucrats, probably those who were never in combat themselves, for the proper honor for her son! To that mother, don't ever give up. Hold news conferences. Find out the individuals who are denying proper honor to your son and publish their names. Keep on your Congressman and both U.S. Senators. Write to the President. Keep the pressure on and someday your son will receive the honor he absolutely deserves!
Never, never, never give up!!! Applied pressure to everyone involved. Never give up. Far too many have ended up unrecognized, and gone unnoticed. It is a well-known fact that Our Military and or Government, will lie, lie, lie, and cover up the truth. I know. For your son's sake, and for the sake of many who have gone this route, please don't quit. Many of us veterans understand what you are going through, and fully realize the tremendous pressure and heart ache this path may lead to. But he deserves no less. God be with you.
The official manner of death matters financially for benefits and politically because the death of WIAs who survive til the plane touches down in Delaware don't have to go into the '4,000' KIAs from Iraq.
No American administration has any motivation for an accurate count of the costs of war or the number of casualties. The more a war costs and the more troops who die the harder it is to be certain we won it (or are winning).
But the political and economic costs are the least important ones. The great loss is to the family and his community who lost someone who would have been a great fireman.
Most of the people who joined (or rejoined) the military after 9/11 were the best we have - the most dedicated, selfless, and motivated members of the community. If we burn them up and out in endless repeated deployments where will we get their equals?
My whole working life has been about supporting and healing our soldiers and veterans - but we have never asked so much of them. Much more than when I wore green, and they give so much more than we ask.
We can do better for their sake and ours than this. I weep that we are back to arguing about whether a war is 'in vain'. If we have to argue about why we are fighting, what the war means, and so forth we are losing it no matter what else happens overseas and who ends up in power in Baghdad.
I can definitely understand the mother's position. As a Gold Star wife, I want everything about my husband to be recognized. I can also understand the army's position. It is simply a sad thing for everyone and unfortunately, history and precedence is not on the mom's side.
I have to clear up one point though. I have the same t-shirt about the memorial wall. It is NOT a military sponsored wall and there is no guarantee that his name would be added. And, having that t-shirt in no way means that he helped to build that wall. I certainly do not see it that way, especially when I know how much time, effort and work was put into building that wall by the Killeen Police Dept. Having that t-shirt simply means that he bought a t-shirt for $10 and the money went for a very good cause.
