Georgians KIA in Iraq Part Eleven: Pvt. Benjamin Freeman

Washington Post obit:

Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman
Age: 19
Hometown: Valdosta, GA
Date of Death: 10/13/2003
Incident Location: Near Asad, Iraq

Branch of Military: Army
Rank: Pvt.
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Unit's Base: Fort Carson, Colo.

Three days before he left for Iraq, Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman was married in Colorado. "He looked forward to being a wonderful husband to his wife, April, and having children of his own," said his mother, Vicki Freeman. Freeman, 19, of Valdosta, Ga., drowned on Oct. 13 in the Euphrates River northwest of Baghdad. He had joined the Army earlier this year and was based at Fort Carson. "He was only 19, but he was no longer just a teenager. He had become a determined young man, clear thinking and motivated," said his uncle, Lee Freeman. "He knew that we all recognized this, and he knew how proud we all were of him." Freeman was an accomplished guitarist who wrote his own music. A recording of one of his songs was played at the funeral.

I realize most would not consider Pvt. Freeman to have been killed in action, but he might very well still be alive if he hadn't been sent to fight an unjustified war. He was inspired to join the military because of the attacks on September 11, but he wasn't sent to bring those responsible to justice. He was sent . . . for what, again? Oil? Family Grudge match? WMDs? Well, the Iraqis have a huge surplus of cash from their oil profits, while we're facing an historically high deficit and spending billions to rebuild their country. There were no WMDs, and I just can't stand that Valdosta lost one of their bright hopes for the future because of the ridiculous excuse for foreign policy practiced by the Bush Administration. The occupation of Iraq must end. We must bring them home.
Related: Inspiration, Part One, Parts Two and Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten

Georgians KIA in Iraq Part Six: Spc. David T. Nutt

Profiles of Americans killed in Iraq | ajc.com: Army Spec. David T. Nutt

For Heidi Nutt, there was no doubt about David Nutt. "I knew it from the moment I met him," she said. The two were married seven months after meeting at Fort Campbell, where he was in the Army and she worked in child services.
"He was just a proud, wonderful man," she said. "A strong soldier who never complained." Nutt, 32, of Blackshear, Ga., was driving a truck in Iraq May 14 when he swerved to avoid an automobile driven by an Iraqi civilian. The truck overturned and Nutt was killed. . . Heidi Nutt last spoke with her husband the day after Mother's Day. She says she remembers every word. "He wanted to wish me a happy anniversary and he couldn't wait to come home to see us," she said.

The above quote and photo are from an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from May 20, 2003, which is linked at the top of the post. Although some sites list Specialist Nutt's death as accidental, I am including him in Georgians KIA because of the following from Georgia State House Resolution 1245:

Honoring and remembering the life of United States Army Sergeant David Terrell Nutt, killed in action during the course of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and for other purposes. . . WHEREAS, Sergeant Nutt courageously gave his life when the supply truck he was driving was ambushed and came under enemy fire . . .

The resolution also mentions that Specialist Nutt was "posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star." He is survived by his parents, Mrs. Alice Taylor Nutt and Mr. Winfred Nutt, his wife Heidi, and their three daughters, Emily, Sarah, and Hannah. The resolution states that Sergeant Nutt was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, but other sites have him assigned to the 494th Transportation Division, but he was definitely at Fort Campbell.

There is a great deal of confusion between sites as to David's age. It seems obvious to me from his photo and story that he was 32 when he died, but several sites have his age at 22. I think this stems from a typo that got repeated. Either way, he was too young to be taken from his family.

I lost my father when I was fifteen, but he died of cancer, so we had some warning. I can't imagine what it must be like for his daughters, who were apparently all under 6 when he died. My heart goes out to his family as they continue to live each day without him. We must end this war. Too many families have lost loved ones to an unjustified war.

Related: Inspiration, Part One, Parts Two and Three, Part Four, Part Five

Georgians KIA in Iraq Part Four: Captain Edward J. Korn

Captain Edward Jason Korn, 31, of Savannah, was killed on April 3, 2003. He was killed by friendly fire while scouting for Iraqi positions during a tank battle 15 miles southeast of Baghdad. Captain Korn grew up at the Bethesda Home for Boys. Jason, as his family called him, was a Desert Storm Veteran and Bronze Star recipient. He had been stationed at Fort Knox, but volunteered for war duty in March 2003. He was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart. There is a great deal of information about Captain Korn at the Arlington website. This is where I found this quote, from William McIlrath, assistant director of the Bethesda Home, who remembered Jason from his time there: "The thing that really impressed me about him was that he always told the truth, no matter how much it embarassed him or got him into trouble." If only the same could be said for President Bush, maybe Captain Korn would still be with us today.

Related: Inspiration, Part One, Parts Two and Three

Georgians KIA in Iraq Part One: Army Spc. Jamaal R. Addison

Army Spc. Jamaal R. Addison Died: March 23, 2003

22, of Roswell, Ga.; assigned to the 507th Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas; killed in an ambush near Nasiriyah, Iraq.
Specialist Addison's mother, Patricia M. Roberts, set up a foundation in his name "as a means of honoring his service and life. The JAMF's primary focus is to offer opportunities for positive growth and expose youth to the wide options available to them to lead successful lives."

Addison attended Henderson High School from eighth to 10th grade, then went to Lakeside, where he was a member of the Junior ROTC and graduated with a college prep degree. Relatives fondly described Addison as the family's computer guru. His enlistment in the military came as a surprise to his ROTC instructors at Lakeside.

"I had no idea he was going into the Army," said Lt. Col. Sydney Sider, 58, a senior Air Force ROTC instructor at Lakeside High. "The last talk we had was that he was going to college."

But Sider added that Addison had the strength and character to be successful in the military.

"He was a very nice young man ... and a very good student," Sider said. "He was good in ROTC. I just wish I had him a little longer." Spec. Addison was a straight-A student who joined the Army days after graduating from high school to secure a future for his infant son.
He was deployed to Iraq just after his wedding to Tek'la, and they have a seven-year-old son (Jamaal II) and eight-year-old daughter (Christian).

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said March 26, 2003 that the 507th Maintenance Company ran into a heavily armed Iraqi combat unit that included two tanks and automatic weapons when it made the wrong turn near An Nasiriyah.

Spec. Addison's stepbrother, Rodney Fisher, was quoted in an LA Times article as saying "I never thought there was a reason to go to war in the first place. This sure as hell doesn't make it any better. This was a good man. He didn't deserve this. This whole thing is nonsense."
It should be noted that Spec. Addison was said to have been fully in favor of the war.

Related: Inspiration

New Series

The Glynn Peace Memorial Day helmet display (which was very well-received, BTW) has inspried me to start a new series. This will actually be my first series, so, yeah. Anyway, I have decided to post at least weekly about one of the service members from Georgia who has been Killed in Action during the war in Iraq. There are, unfortunately, more than a hundred of them, so it will take a while. Look for it soon.

Memorial Day event

Memorial for Georgians Killed in the Iraq War
WHEN: MEMORIAL DAY - May 26, 2008

TIME: Noon - 8 p.m.

WHERE: Casino Pool (southside) in Neptune Park, St. Simons Island

GlynnPeace held its first memorial exhibit at Mary Ross Park in October 2007 (see attached photos). A month later, it was held for 2 days at Hanover Square in downtown Brunswick. The last exhibit was at the State of Change Tour Concert at the Gazebo in Mary Ross Park on April 5, 2008. This event was organized by the GlynnPeace - Youth Division.

The exhibit consists of white stakes and camo helmets with the hometowns of the soldiers. Our first exhibit honored 122 Georgians and in April the count was 127. As of May 18, the count is 129.
* * * * *

The number of U.S. soldiers and contractors killed in Iraq is starting to show up differently at major newspapers and databases. We already know the number of U.S. soldiers and contractors killed and wounded is severely underreported. As are those who have committed suicide both in Iraq and here at home.

Please note that U.S. soldiers and contractors in Iraq number just about the same.

Look cool, wear this shirt!

I'm still working on a button. I'll look into it. In the meantime, here's the link to the Glynn Peace Online Store.

GlynnPeace Impeachment Action

This is a picture from Saturday's Impeachment action in the pier village. The response was mixed, but we had several positive responses, mostly from South Carolinians. As a matter of fact, the young man on the left in the photo is from South Carolina, and he decided to join us for the last hour of the demonstration.

National Day for Impeachment

National Day for Impeachment

Saturday, April 28, 2007

GlynnPeace: Citizens to End the War in Iraq
11:00 a.m. - Noon
St. Simons Island

Neptune Park * Mallory Street * Town Pier

JOIN US at the BEACH

Members of GlynnPeace will sponsor a walking demonstration in the park and through the village on Mallory Street, carrying placards relating impeachment to the prospects for peace.
Participants should meet at the flagpole in Neptune Park at 10:45 a.m.

Looking for at least 20 volunteers to help carry placards while walking, and distribute information fliers to passersby.
If you're interested in volunteering, leave your contact information in comments, and I will pass it along.

GlynnPeace Meeting

Just got back from the GlynnPeace meeting at The Annex of St. Mark's in downtown Brunswick. Good meeting. Plans were finalized for The Iraq War Anniversary event. As previously announced, GlynnPeace is hosting an educational event called Military Veterans Speak Out For Peace. It will be held on Sunday, March 18th from 4:00 to 5:30 at the Casino building on St. Simons Island in the Multi-Purpose room. Refreshments will be provided. Come see me at the literature table. Tony Baker will be providing the music. The main event is a panel of those directly affected by the ongoing war in Iraq. Scheduled to speak: Don Forsyth (a Brunswick native who was at the forefront of the Iraq invasion four years ago), Joe May (extended Iraq tour 2004-2005; medical discharge 2006; member Iraq Veterans Against the War, and his mother Jan May (mamber of Military Families Speak Out - Atlanta).

We also learned that Cathy will be with Veterans for Peace in Hinesville and Jacksonville. She might even go along with them to New Orleans, where they'll be spending at least a week rebuilding.

There was more, but Lost will be on soon.

Iraq War Anniversary Event March 18th

WHAT: Public educational program, "Veterans Speak Out For Peace", featuring Iraq War vets and members of Military Families Speak Out, on the 4th anniversary of the Iraq War.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 2007, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Multi-purpose room (Room 108) at the Casino on St. Simons Island. Enter on the west side of the building, facing The Village.

DETAILS: Presenters will include Don Forsyth, a Brunswick vet who was with the 3/7th Cavalry when it crossed into Iraq and fought its way to Baghdad exactly four years ago; Joe May, who served an extended tour of duty in Iraq in 2005-05 and was medically discharged from the Army this past November; his mother Jan May, a member of Military Families Speak Out in Atlanta; and Mindy Ratcliff, whose husband will be re-deployed to Iraq from Fort Stewart this August.

This event is sponsored by GlynnPeace: Citizens To End The War In Iraq. It is free and everyone is encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served.
For more information call 262-1274 or e-mail glynnpeace@bellsouth.net or visit www.glynnpeace.org.