Brought home by his best friend, lost medic unites perfect strangers

[RamboLiberal]

Make sure you view the slide show of how they are shipped home. Also recommend the 2 slide shows of the Lakota Sioux burying one of their fallen. Have tissues handy.


Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John Dragneff walks down the conveyor belt after helping secure the casket of Christopher Anderson at Denver International Airport. "Even though we're best friends, this isn't for me," Dragneff said. "This is for the family." Anderson was killed Dec. 4 in Iraq.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5216457,00.html

The skinny sailor sat in the Philadelphia airport terminal in his deep-blue dress uniform, cracking his knuckles, shifting in his seat, waiting for his best friend.

A woman from the airline walked over and motioned for him to follow. She saw the nervous look on the sailor's face and stopped.

"Wait," she said. "Is this your first time doing this?"

"Yes, ma'am," the 22 year-old said, his voice cracking.

"Well, unfortunately, it's not the first time for me," she said. "Not even the first time this week."

[MADem]

1. Heartbreaking. NT

[babylonsister]

2. Heartbreaking especially when you think of how often this is happening. nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I cried

and cried as I saw the ceremony for Brett as well. The cowards who would not go into combat themselves are sending the bravest of the brave to do their dirty work. When their time comes, I wonder, when they reach the gates of heaven, if they will be able to look these brave souls in the eye?

[Sirveri]

4. Had to check that I didn't go to boot with the kid.

He went in Aug '05 I went in Apr '05. I'm not sure how I would have felt about that.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. It makes one feel as if one's heart is actually cryng....

and makes me despise Bush and his chickenhawks more than I ever thought I could.

[BR_Parkway]

6. And that inhumane motherfucker brags to reporters how well he sleeps

at night. I hope everyone of these people come back and haunt him. I don't even care if he's impeached anymore, I want him imprisoned. For the rest of his natural life.

[princehal]

7. These Heros

Give our Country their all. Honor, Loyalty, their lives.

Fuck those who don't value this. That first picture in the slide show should be on Bush's desk. He should look at the face of that young hero EVERY FUCKING DAY.

Not that it would touch him. I dont think anythin ever has. He has his plastic God and his plastic office. He is the decider.

Geeze, I am so sad.

[Historic NY]

8. I can't say much.........

the long trip home...so sad. :cry:

[mcscajun]

9. Thank you for sharing this. I had to write to the editor of the Rocky Mountain News

after reading it.

Subject: Commending your paper and Jim Sheeler

on this excellent, moving article.

Battlefield's 'Doc' now in a nation's care
Brought home by his best friend, lost medic unites perfect strangers
By Jim Sheeler, Rocky Mountain News
December 15, 2006

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5216457,00.html

I don't live in Colorado, but in New Jersey, so your paper is not familiar to me. I learned of this story from a posting at www.democraticunderground.com. Rarely have I ever been so touched by the experience of perfect strangers, and felt so close to tears over a stranger's loss. This story illuminates the ongoing sacrifices made by our military and their families, and it deserves recognition of the highest form. Pulitzer comes to mind.

Regards,

(signature omitted from DU post)

[RamboLiberal]

10. I'll have to write as well

That was certainly an excellent piece. I also thought their Veteran's Day story which was also posted with this story on their main page on a Marine Major who serves as a casualty notification officer and the coverage of his experience with the families as they bring the dead Marines home to them was very touching and well-written (also kudos to their photographers).

Equally touching was the slides of the Lakota Sioux laying one of their fallen Marines to rest. I didn't know the Native Americans have the highest participation in the military currently though that did not surprise me. Native Americans have shown a great patriotism to this nation that so wronged them.