Comments on: They Have Names

By: Echo9er -- (aka David)

Echo9er -- (aka David) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 06:02:49 +0000

Hook.

Thanks, friend.

As I have mentioned before, I feel I have an obligation to at least post the DoD releases. Every once in a great while, I recognize a name, and that name may be the son or daughter of a classmate from High School or someone I new growing up, or even someone from Washington state that I have met or otherwise have a connection. That’s when it gets tough.

I don’t just post the DoD release. I read each and every one of them. I remember what it is to go to a family’s home and make notification of a loved one’s death. I remember the assistance from identification, to funeral and beyond to those families. I remember the grief each and everyone feels. I KNOW what each family of each Servicemember I post goes through because I have been by their side at one time or another.

Thanks for these words. May God Bless and Keep each and every one.

David
aka Echo9er

By: MissBirdlegs in AL

MissBirdlegs in AL — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:46:39 +0000

I’ve thanked David before for his postings. As I told him, if they’ve fought and given their lives for us (or anyone) surely the least we can do is read those postings. We’ll rarely see or hear this info anywhere else. The numbers game has always upset me too, because it seems to be a snarky way of saying, “See, I told you”.

By: Flag Gazer

Flag Gazer — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:04:14 +0000

People cannot be reminded enough that they do, indeed, have names - not to mention lives and families and friends. the numbers game upsets me, because it is so hollow.

By: Terri

Terri — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:31:20 +0000

Thanks for the info SgtHook. Ironically enough the title of your post caught my eye, because I’m aware of a website that CJ over at A Soldier’s Perspective has started, aptly enough called “They Have Names” to honor our fallen Heroes. I’ll include a blurb from They Have Names here:

ABOUT US
On May 29th, two journalists were killed and one severely injured by an IED in Iraq. Every media outlet in the country seemed to trip all over themselves trying to tell the American people about these “brave journalists”. There were specials aired during prime time, full front page articles on almost every national newspaper and most local papers. And in every single article was this vague and nonspecific notation: “A U.S. soldier and an Iraqi translator also died in the blast.”

Who was this “U.S. soldier”? For days, he endured anonymity for his sacrifice while these journalists whom he’d given his life to protect were paraded throughout the media as martyrs. I made it my goal in life to find out who he was and tell his story. He was not just “a U.S. soldier” to me. He was a brother. He was father. He was a son. And he had a name.

They have names was created to in order to pay proper respects for our fallen heroes. All too often, these Troops are relegated to mere numbers by the press. Their stories are unknown. Their lives are unkown. And their names are unknown. Their sacrifice is impersonal and taken for granted. To many Americans, they are faceless figures. They are not enigmas - They Have Names.

At the time of this writing, over 3000 troops have been killed in Iraq alone. Each and every one of them has unique talents, hobbies, families, and histories. Each of them had a reason that led them to serve in one of our nation’s armed forces. These people are not mere numbers - They Have Names.

This site is dedicated to the memory of CPT James “Alex” Funkhouser, who gave me the motivation to share the stories of our fallen heroes.

You can see what CJ’s accomplished so far at www.theyhavenames.com