Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Veterans issues

Sunday the Defense Dept issued the following, " The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn. Pfc. Robert M. Friese, 21, of Chesterfield, Mich., died April 29 in Al Qadisiyah province, Iraq, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. For more information, the media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-287-9993 or 254-449-4023." Ryan Berlin (Morning Sun) speaks with Robert Friese's aunt Carol Friese who says, "Everybody is still in a state of shock. He was a great kid and was always willing to help you with something." Robert Friese is one of 11 US soldiers who died in Iraq last month. Berlin notes that Robert Friese was "engaged and set to be married to his fiancee Britney this August." Kyle Mitchell (9and10 News -- link has text and video) also speaks with his family and his mother Cindy expressed her thanks for the support the local community has provided and says of her son, "He was a loving kid, very loving, and everybody loved him."

Meanwhile Linda Chion Kenney (Brandon Patch) reports that Jennifer Beck is worried about her husband Iraq War veteran Jerry James Beck whom she last saw April 26th. Jerry James Beck's abandoned car was discovered April 27th. Jennifer explains she and her three kids are very worried. She believes her husband is suffering from PTSD.

In other news, Joseph G. Cote (Nashua Telegraph) reports Iraq War veteran Ricardo Perez returned from his deployment yesterday and "took the oath of citizenship Tuesday in front of the hundreds of people who had gathered at Wiggins Airways in Machester to welcome home the Army Reserve's 94th Military Police Company." The El Salvador native "worked with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's office to coordinate his naturalization ceremony with his return."


The following community sites -- plus Jane Fonda, War News Radio and Antiwar.com -- updated this morning and last night:



We'll close with this from David Bacon's photo essay "May Day: San Jose Marches for Immigrant and Workers Rights" (Political Affairs):

Immigrants, workers, union members and community activists marched on May Day in San Jose. Marchers protested attacks on immigrants, unions and the rights of workers.

The march was organized by the May First Coalition, part of a national network called May Day United. Many marchers were immigrants from Mexico and Central America, where May Day is celebrated as a workers' holiday every year. Some marchers called for support for the Dignity Campaign, a proposal for immigration reform based on labor and human rights.


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thomas friedman is a great man






oh boy it never ends















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