WHAT THE NYTIMES LEFT OUT
- From: William Boyd <williamboyd@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 17:20:17 -0500
Here is a column by Michelle Malkin that says a lot about the intellectual honesty of the liberal media.
CPL. JEFFREY B. STARR: WHAT THE NYTIMES LEFT OUT By Michelle Malkin · October 28, 2005 10:49 AM
On Wednesday, the NYTimes published a 4,625-word opus on the "2,000 dead"
milestone--a "grim mark," read the headline--on page A2. Among those profiled
were Marines from the First Battalion of the Fifth Marine Regiment, including
Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr. Here's an excerpt from the Times' passage about Cpl.
Starr:
Another member of the 1/5, Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, rejected a $24,000 bonus to
re-enlist. Corporal Starr believed strongly in the war, his father said, but was
tired of the harsh life and nearness of death in Iraq. So he enrolled at Everett
Community College near his parents' home in Snohomish, Wash., planning to study
psychology after his enlistment ended in August.
But he died in a firefight in Ramadi on April 30 during his third tour in
Iraq. He was 22.
Sifting through Corporal Starr's laptop computer after his death, his father
found a letter to be delivered to the marine's girlfriend. ''I kind of predicted
this,'' Corporal Starr wrote of his own death. ''A third time just seemed like
I'm pushing my chances.''
* * *
Last night, I received a letter from Corporal Starr's uncle, Timothy Lickness.
He wanted you to know the rest of the story--and the parts of Corporal Starr's
letter that the Times failed to include:
Yesterday's New York Times on-line edition carried the story of the 2000 Iraq
US military death[s]. It grabbed my attention as the picture they used with the
headline was that of my nephew, Cpl Jeffrey B. Starr, USMC.
Unfortunately they did not tell Jeffrey's story. Jeffrey believed in what he
was doing. He [was] willing put his life on the line for this cause. Just before
he left for his third tour of duty in Iraq I asked him what he thought about
going back the third time. He said: "If we (Americans) don't do this (free the
Iraqi people from tyranny) who will? No one else can."
Several months after Jeffrey was killed his laptop computer was returned to
his parents who found a letter in it that was addressed to his girlfriend and
was intended to be found only if he did not return alive. It is a most poignant
letter and filled with personal feelings he had for his girlfriend. But of
importance to the rest of us was his expression of how he felt about putting his
life at risk for this cause. He said it with grace and maturity.
He wrote: "Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind
of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just
seemed like I'm pushing my chances. I don't regret going, everybody dies but few
get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we
are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can
live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To
do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died
for my freedom, now this is my mark."
What Jeffrey said is important. Americans need to understand that most of
those who are or have been there understand what's going on. It would honor
Jeffrey's memory if you would publish the rest of his story.
* * *
Mr. Lickness also told me: "Even more than a Marine, Jeff was a man of God. At a
recent memorial service at Camp Pendleton for the 16 Marines from his unit
killed in Iraq we got to meet the men who were with him when he died. They told
us of his bravery under fire, his leadership, his humor and his humanity.
America lost the best it has, but the family knows he's with his Heavenly Father
and we will see him again."
Now you know what the Times left out. Now you know the rest of Corporal Starr's
story.
--
Posted by HOPPIE, 30 Years Active Duty ,11 Campaigns Vietnam, Life Member; Am.Lgn,DAV,VFW,AFSA
.
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