Talladega soldier was eyeing retirement, politics

[babylonsister]

This man was on his fifth tour of combat duty, tried to retire, and wasn't allowed. :cry:

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061023/NEWS/610230345/1007

Talladega soldier was eyeing retirement, politics


By Jane Self
Features Editor
October 23. 2006 3:30AM

snip//

After 20 years in the Army, Sgt. 1st Class Stephen White was sent to Iraq in November 2005 right after Thanksgiving for his fifth tour of combat duty. On Jan. 5, he and four other soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his vehicle in An Najaf. White was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.

He was 39.

His wife of 15 years, Vicky White, who was also on active duty, had followed her husband to Iraq a few weeks after he went, leaving their two children, Stephanie and Stephen, with her family in North Carolina. She accompanied her husband’s body home after he was killed and soon after retired from the service.

Stanley White said his brother, who had five older children from previous relationships, had tried to retire at the end of his 20 years. But he was caught in the stop-loss policy, which keeps military personnel on active duty status if their units are under orders to be deployed within 90 days. After that, he had decided to wait until he returned from this tour and retire with his wife this year.

“He wasn’t sure what he was going to do after retirement," Stanley White said. “He talked about coming back to Talladega and becoming the mayor. And he always encouraged me to get into politics.

snip//

[MadMaddie]

1. Five tours...every tour they add on increases the soldiers

chances of getting killed....* cabal is responsible for this bullshit

My thoughts go to the family....he served his time to his country.....he should not be dead.

[babylonsister]

2. He did his time, had all those kids, 5 tours, it's just not right. nt

[babylonsister]

3. Kick! nt

[dogday]

4. This is such a sad story and should not of

happened.... George Bush killed this man just as sure as if he had shot him..