Just Another American Hometown Boy . . . - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

longston · #1 04-12-2003, 08:20 PM

Today, friends and family gathered in the town where I live to remember the spirit and bury the body of Marine Lance Corporal Patrick O'Day. Appropriately, it's raining right now here in Santa Rosa, CA. In fact, it started raining last night, and has come down pretty steadily all day. I say appropriately, because it always seems to me to be appropriate for the sky to symbolically shed its tears while so many people below those rain clouds will be shedding theirs.

Saturday service set for SR Marine

April 8, 2003 By CAROL BENFELL - THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Funeral services for Patrick O'Day, Sonoma County's first casualty in the latest Iraq war, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Santa Rosa's Veterans Memorial Building.

O'Day, 20, of Santa Rosa was a lance corporal in the 1st Tank Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He and three crew members died March 25 when their tank went off a bridge and landed upside down in the Euphrates River near Nasiriyah.

Veterans' groups will be assisting in the public service, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the Marine Corps League, an organization of active-duty, reserve and retired Marines. Graveside services at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, with full military honors, will follow the service at the Veterans Building.

O'Day was born in 1983 in Scotland and moved with his parents to Santa Rosa when he was 3 years old. He was a 2001 graduate of Santa Rosa High School and worked at J.C. Penney's at Coddingtown Mall. He joined the Marines in July 2001, intending to make the military a career, said his widow, Shauna O'Day. "He liked their reputation and he liked their discipline. He was proud to be a Marine," Shauna O'Day said. Shauna O'Day, 19, is expecting the couple's first child in September.

Patrick O'Day, who was stationed at Twentynine Palms, learned he was going to be a father just a week before he left for Kuwait and ultimately, Iraq. A trust fund has been established for the child's care and education. Donations may be made to the Baby O'Day Trust Fund, Exchange Bank, 500 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa 95403.

The very sad and senseless death of a brave young man who only wanted to serve the country he loved, return to his young bride, see their child be born, and spend their lives together. He's our fallen warrior, our only fatality from this war that lived here with us, attended our local schools, and was known by the people of our own example of home town America.

It's the classic tale of a home town American hero, a young man who went to war to fight for the country he loved so much. But there was no happy ending to be found here. There was no daring rescue by him, or of him. No great victorious battle he survived, no valiant heroic stand made to save others in the heat of battle, no epic Audie Murphy charge against the enemy, no footage of him on CNN helping free the people of Iraq. He really never got a fair chance to experience any of those things. Like so many others, he simply went to war for America, willing to take his chances, knowing what the worst case outcome might be for him. All that needs to be said is that he died for us all. He died bravely, and honorably, in combat. Like so many Marines before and after him. Semper Fi.

I was visiting a local thrift store here on Thursday. The store helps provide funding for a local hospital's hospice program whose services include helping people who are dying to live with dignity in their final days, and providing support for the families of those who are transitioning through that inevitable and difficult period in all our lives when we either lose someone close to us, or when we will be the loved one departing this world.

As I approached, I noticed a huge American Flag covering the entire background of the front display window of the store. Usually, they have some clever theme that in the past has included things like a Spanish-American motif, western gear, Elvis memorabilia, Hollywood movies, prom night, 1950's rock & roll, and all the usual holiday themes.

This was very different. The theme was considerably less frivolous. In front of the American Flag backdrop was a single stool, draped with the "Rampant Lion", or Royal Flag of Scotland, and a framed picture of Patrick O'Day, photographed in the traditional USMC dress blue uniform, sitting atop that proud and ancient flag of the land of his birth.

I was overcome with a mixture of pride in this young man, joy at the love and honor that this gesture represented, gratitude for his love of country, sadness at his loss, compassion for his family, sorrow for his wife and child, fear of our own shared mortality, and the grief of knowing that I was old enough to be his father. That could be my son's picture in that window. And in a way, it was. He was all of our fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, nephews and sons who ever went, and will ever go to war for America. He was no better, and no worse than any who gave, or will ever give their life defending our ideals of freedom, justice and liberty. He was the model of the clean-cut, all-American-boy-soldier.

I walked into that store, and saw the senior manager of all of the Hospice Thrift stores. We exchanged pleasant greetings, and I immediately told her how proud and gratified I was to see this small, but meaningful tribute to our home town Marine. I told her that I was glad to see someone do something to remember this young man and his ultimate sacrifice for our way of life. I told her how much it meant to me, how it had touched my heart, how it had moved me. I offered my thanks, and pledged my support.

She thanked me for sharing my views with her, and for my support, but told me that the decision hadn't been hers. It was the idea of the manager of that particular store. She then encouraged me to share my comments with that lady directly.

It turns out that Hannah, the manager of that store, is an old family friend of the O'Days. Her boys had grown up with Patrick O'Day and his three brothers. She told me about the boys growing up together, and how they were constantly running in and out of each others' houses their whole lives. This window was a highly personal gesture from a woman who had sons who would soon follow Patrick into service of our country as well. She was grief stricken, while at the same time, scared to death that this same fate could befall another O'Day brother, and/or one her own sons. But what shocked me was that she was almost as afraid of what people would think, or do in response to the window display. She told me that she almost expected some creep to throw a rock through the window, or spray it with graffiti. In fact, she had been amazed to not hear any negative comments from anyone, and to come to work one day to find that someone had actually laid flowers in front of the window.

We spoke for quite some time, and during the conversation, Hannah shared some incredible insights with me, as well as some great stories. One particular one was about an elderly woman who had just told her about the last time a young man from here had gone to war and not returned. He was serving in the Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked, and he was killed. The whole city (which was much smaller then) was grief stricken, there were services, memorials, and the city fathers even named a school and a street in his memory. She told me that she seriously doubted that the city would react that strongly in this case.

Later that day, I decided to call the local National Guard Armory to see if they could tell me if we had any other local people in Iraq, and to ask what we could do for their families to help them. The sergeant I spoke to told me that we didn't have anyone deployed to Iraq, but that the armory was hosting an event on Saturday after the services for Patrick O'Day to remember his loss, and show strong support for our troops. It was being co-sponsored by a local radio station, and he encouraged me to tell lots of folks to come. I told him about the window display, which he hadn't been aware of. And in exchange, he ended up telling me about his service in the Marines, a life-long ambition that began for him when a soldier gave a little boy his marksmanship medal during a shared moment on a train ride. He told me how disappointed he was to come home from Vietnam and be treated like a criminal. And he silently told me how proud he was to be an American when he mentioned that he joined the National Guard immediately after leaving the Marine Corps. We ended our conversation with me thanking him for his service to our country, and him promising to stop by the window display to offer a crisp salute for a fellow Marine and a fallen comrade in arms.

Jessica Lynch and Patrick O'Day. Two home town soldiers who went to war to serve the country they love. Each from opposite sides of this great nation. Jessica'a capture and rescue have made her world famous, with book and movie offers, college scholarships, and tons of media attention. Still, even having survived, she will likely bear the scars of her experience her whole life long. Patrick's death has left behind a grieving family, heartbroken widow, an unborn child, and a community saddened by his tragic loss. All either of them ever wanted was to come home safe to their family and friends. One did, the other didn't. I salute them both for their individual sacrifices for our country, as well as for their ultimate contributions, and service to America.

We should all be grateful for the men and women like these two, who are willing to fight for what American values really are. I encourage each of you to support our troops, do whatever you can to help their families, honor their sacrifices, recognize their contribution to your way of life, and never forget the price of your freedom.

Frank X. Morris · #2 04-12-2003, 08:48 PM

Howdy Scott,
Great story Scott!¡ Thanx!¡

suginami · #3 04-12-2003, 11:02 PM

Amen, brother, amen.

#4 04-13-2003, 01:28 AM

Scott, thank you for that post.

longston · #5 04-13-2003, 04:13 PM

I am posting this to honor this man's memory. If you have similar stories, or wish to share the loss of a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine from your own community, please do so.

SR grieves for fallen Marine

April 13, 2003 By CAROL BENFELL and LORI A. CARTER - THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The bagpipes skirled and even the heavens wept Saturday as Patrick O'Day, Sonoma County's first casualty in the Iraq war, was laid to rest in Santa Rosa Memorial Park. As the rain beat down, O'Day's mother, Angela O'Day, pressed a memorial American flag close against her heart and leaned over to comfort her youngest son. Rory O'Day, 13, was weeping inconsolably. "Rest in peace, our blond-haired boy," Angela O'Day wrote in a eulogy that was read aloud at the service. "Smile your great smile, wherever you are."

O'Day, a 20-year-old lance corporal in the Marines, died March 25 after his tank struck an obstacle on a bridge and overturned in the Euphrates River, near Nasiriyah. More than 900 people came to the service at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa, bright military uniforms swimming in a sea of black-garbed mourners. Teen-age girls with long hair and tattoos, who might have known O'Day at Santa Rosa High School, sat beside gray-haired men and women wearing American Legion service caps and carrying small flags.

"A man who is good, even if he dies young, shall be at rest," intoned the chaplain, Capt. John Crews of the U.S. Naval Reserve. "For the age that is honorable does not come with the passing of time. "His soul was pleasing to the Lord, and the Lord took him home," Crews said.

Military and civilian volunteers had been at the hall, decorating and setting out chairs, since 7 a.m. Nearly everything connected with the services, from food at the reception to the gravesite itself, was donated in an outpouring of community sympathy and support. A large picture of O'Day in uniform flanked the stage, amid bouquets of red carnations and white chrysanthemums, arrangements of spring flowers and a floral replica of the Purple Heart, awarded to him posthumously. Two Marines stood at attention at the sides of the flag-draped coffin.

"I know Patrick is smiling down on us today," said Shauna O'Day, 19, his widow. "I'm proud to say my husband fought for his country. I'm proud to be carrying his child," she said, her voice breaking, but her head held high. "And I'm proud to say my husband is a hero, my hero. "Patrick, I love you and you will always be in my heart. I promise our child will grow up to know you and love you as I do," she said.

A Marine officer presented the family with posthumous citizenship papers for Patrick, who was a native of Scotland and moved to Santa Rosa with his family in 1987. He graduated from Santa Rosa High in 2001 and was married last year. Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, wrote letters of condolence that were read aloud. "He was a role model to his fellow Marines, and his spirit and memory will remain with us forever. You do not grieve alone," Hagee wrote.

A seven-man Marine honor guard, resplendent in blue, red and white uniforms, slowly wheeled the flag-draped coffin from the hall as veterans of several generations stood and saluted. At a graveside ceremony following the service, the chaplain committed O'Day's soul to God and his body to the earth. About 150 people braved a spring downpour to watch as the honor guard, in a time honored-ritual, folded the flag from the coffin and presented it to the widow. A second memorial flag went to the parents, Tim and Angela O'Day. Rifle shots rang out in a 21-gun salute.

Family members went one by one to place yellow roses on the coffin after it was lowered into the grave. But Thomas, Patrick's younger brother, paused for a long time and then reached down as if to touch his brother for the last time.

Speakers from the Marines had reminded the O'Days that the "Marine Corps family" was there to help them through this sad time. "We lost a little brother," explained former Marine and Vietnam veteran Stuart Greenbaum of Glen Ellen, tears welling in his eyes. "This new generation of Marines does us proud and this young man gave his all."

Military groups assisting in the services included the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, the Marine Corps League and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

In addition to his wife and parents, Patrick O'Day is survived by three brothers: Thomas, Matthew and Rory O'Day, all of Santa Rosa; and his grandparents, Patricia Norris and Terry O'Day of Rochdale, England.

Patrick O'Day wasn't the only member of the military from here who is serving in Iraq. I hope all of the others are able to come home safe to their families.

More Hometown Heroes

Botnst · #6 10-16-2006, 10:18 PM

Many taking military shortcut to U.S. citizenship
By Adriana Garcia Mon Oct 16, 5:35 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has provided legal immigrants a fast track to citizenship, and they are taking advantage of it in record numbers, even if it means facing the risk of death or injury in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Interest surged after President George W. Bush signed an executive order in July 2002 allowing immigrants with green cards to become citizens as soon as they are sworn in, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Since then, more than 25,000 immigrant members of the armed services have become U.S. citizens and another 40,000 are eligible to request naturalization, USCIS said in a statement.

The numbers rose to 4,614 in fiscal 2005 ended September 30, 2005, from 749 in 2001, the agency's figures show.

Mexican-born Gabriela Begaye, 30, who joined the Army at the age of 25 and became a citizen last week in Fort Bliss, Texas, says she feels proud to wear a military uniform.

"I would die for this country. I would do it," she said.

Begaye admits that the new Bush administration law may be motivating more immigrants to join the armed forces.

"You get a lot of respect (by joining the army). Now that the law has passed, that has to be a motivator," she said.

The U.S. immigration agency started in 2004 to conduct the first overseas military naturalization ceremonies since the Korean War. During fiscal 2005, 1,006 foreign-born soldiers became citizens outside the United States.

But the chance to win citizenship fast and at no cost is not the main reason foreigners join the military, said Douglas Smith, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.

"Money for education, wanting to serve the country, and to learn a skill are the top three motivations," he said.

Citizenship also means a green light to climb through the ranks of the military, said USCIS spokesman Daniel Kane, who added that patriotic pride is often a key factor.

"There's a strong surge of patriotism among immigrants who are serving. They are grateful to the United States and they want to give back," he said.

Even without the Bush administration fast-track order, the average time in the military required to apply for citizenship in peacetime has been reduced from three years to one under current legislation, USCIS said.

But the opportunity may come at the risk of life and limb in battle.

A total of 75 immigrant soldiers have become citizens posthumously during the U.S.-led military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq that began after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Mexican-born Cristian Valle, 23, of California lost both legs in an attack in the Iraqi city of Balad last October.

He joined the army five years ago not to gain citizenship, but because his mother insisted.

"She liked the men in uniform on TV. Being the older son in the family, it was my duty," Valle said during therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, with his wife Blanca and his baby son looking on.

"I don't regret it. I would keep doing it, but this came my way and I can't do what I want any more," he added.