American Heroes

Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, left, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Oregon were captured, tortured and murdered by al Qaida in Iraq.

Yesterday I received this note from my daughter Carolynne whose son Johnny is in the Army 82nd Airborne.

Dad,
Would you please keep these boys and their families in your prayers. I know Tommy's parents and my heart is broken for them. He was in the 101st Airborne. All the radio stations here are going to have a moment of silence tomorrow at 8:00 am.
Love, Carolynne

Dear Carolynne,
How horrible for their families. Please send me anything you know about Tommy. I will write a tribute to him, and will pray with you at 8AM tomorrow.
Love, Dad

We prayed and so did many PalosVerdesBlog readers. Some responses:

Bill, Thank you for this, from the bottom of my broken heart.... Haya

Evidently your grandson and daughter knew our killed, brutalized soldiers. I too, will remember at 8AM tomorrow..... Marie

My heart also is broken for these families. I cannot imagine enduring such tragic and barbaric information without faith. We will be praying for them..... Bob and Joan

So very sad.... I said a prayer and will keep praying.... Kathryn

Now this brings it closer to home, doesn’t it? My heart was very sad when they first went missing last week…knowing those horrible terrorists’ ways. Yesterday I first heard about finding the bodies and I cringed. I thank God for our military who selflessly give of their time and lives to guard our land and way of life. It’s getting more and more difficult for me to remain in control when dealing with some of the liberal ideas I face everyday. Keep looking up!... Dori

Oh Billy, this is so sad . If you think this is appropriate and would like to include this poem in the tribute, please do; it's my favorite..... Marianne

Who thinks we'll never meet again?
When even here . . .
Mere catepillars spin and die,
Yet fly again as butterflies.

So surely yet we'll meet and then,
Anew in heaven's sphere . . .
On wings of memory you and I,
We'll fly . . . and fly and fly.












From my dear daughter today:

Dad, Thank you for your prayers. I cried like a baby this morning... I know it's terribly selfish, but I couldn't help thinking that this could happen to Johnny.

Tommy joined the Army National Guard last summer. He is in the 101st Airborne.
His mom Meg and I teased about which was better (101st or 82nd). He went to Iraq in February.

He was a really good kid, into sports and worked hard. He did construction work for awhile and decided to join the Army. He wanted to do his part. His mom was worried about him and he told her not to worry and that he just needed to do his share and he would be okay!

Tommy is the 1st soldier from central Oregon to be killed in Iraq.

In an interview this morning on the Today show his dad Wes, had this to say...

Our son, as far as we’re concerned, has died for the freedom of everybody in the United States.

American hero.