"Each of these heroes stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase in its blessings." -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
President Roosevelt's words have provided comfort to the families of servicemen and women through many more wars after he first spoke them.
Let us hope that his heartfelt praise of those who put their lives on the line at the behest of this nation will offer comfort today for the family and friends of
Lance Corporal William C. Chambers
Lance Corporal Jeremy L. Tinnel
1st Lt. Christopher N. Rutherford
Spc. James L. Adair
News out of Camp Lejeune North Carolina tells us that two Marines died while conducting combat operations in Anbar province.
Assigned to the first Battalion, second Marine Regiment, regimental combat team two, second Marine division to Marine expeditionary force at Camp Lagan, the Marines were Lance Cpl. William C. Chambers, 20, of Ringgold, Ga., and Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Tinnel, 20, of Mechanicsville, Va..
Lance Corporal Chambers joined the Marines in March of 2005. Lance Corporal Tinnel joined in August 2004. Each man was trained as infantry riflemen.
At this writing, little is known about both these heroes, though in the next days I'm sure newspapers in their hometowns will be paying heartfelt tributes to these courageous young Marines. And in the meantime, let us all offer what comfort we can to the families, friends, and units. A good way to do that would be to go to IN REMBERANCE where you can find a guest book in the name of each. At this site you will be able to sign a guest book to offer condolences to the families and friends of these Marines. At this writing guest book pages have been set up for them, but under the designation "unknown." Tomorrow when their names are known to the site holders you will be able to offer condolences there, or at least learn about these young men through the eyes of those who love them.
In the few days since the announcement of his death, we have learned more about Spc. James L. Adair.
He's been fighting in Iraq for more than four months. This weekend, the family of an East Texas soldier learns their loved one will not be coming home. Private First Class James Lee Adair, 26 of Carthage was killed last week after he was hit by a road side bomb. Adair was supposed to come home in September, when he and his wife are expecting their first child.
"My mother came to my room and told me two soldiers were at my front door, and I just knew," said Adair's Wife, Chelsea Adair. "You just know." It was just two days ago Chelsea learned her husband James, or "Lee" as they called him, was not coming home.
"I always knew that there was a possibility that this could happen, but the reality, you don't think it could happen," said Chelsea. The news comes just two weeks before Chelsea and Lee would have celebrated their first anniversary, and two months before the birth of their first child, a baby girl.
FULL STORY AND PHOTO
Here is Spc. James L. Adair's IN REMBERANCE guest book.
1st Lt. Christopher and Rutherford
Governor Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of First Lieutenant Christopher Neill Rutherford. At his direction flags will remain at half staff until sunset on the day of Lt. Rutherford's funeral. The family has not yet determined the date of the funeral, and the governor encourages businesses organizations individuals and government agencies to join in this tribute to a courageous young man who gave his life in the service of his country.
In another day or so you should be able to learn more about Lt. Rutherford in the voices of those who knew and loved him at: IN REMBERANCE
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Each of these heroes ... never let them go.
UPDATE: my thanks to spread the word IRAQ NAM for providing information on Lance Corporal William C. Chambers, and for giving me the correct spelling of the name of his brother Marine, Lance Corporal Jeremy L. Tinnel. you'll find links enhance comment further down in this diary, but I recommend that you visit the site itself. You'll find a richness of detail there that will deepen your knowledge and understanding about these brave men and so many others.