Posted on 03/24/2004 11:49:59 AM PST by Dbdaily
SMITHVILLE LAKE, Mo. -- Family and friends honored a fallen soldier Tuesday.
Sgt. Don Walters died exactly one year ago Tuesday in an ambush in Iraq.
It was the same ambush where Jessica Lynch was captured.
Tuesday, friends and family planted a red maple leaf tree at Smithville Lake to honor Walters.
The family recently learned that the military would honor Walters with a silver star for his bravery during the ambush.
In the Army on and off since the year after high school, Don Walters, 33, had misgivings about going back to the Persian Gulf.
His father, Norman Walters of Salem, Ore., said his son was traumatized by his experience guarding Iraqi prisoners in 1991. “He didn’t want to go,” his father said. “But he didn’t have a choice. He had his orders. He felt it was his duty.”
Before he left for overseas, he told his mother he had a feeling he might not be coming back. Over the weekend the family learned that his premonition had come true.
“We want to thank the entire community for their thoughts and prayers and everything they’ve done for us,” the family said in a statement.
Walters grew up in Colorado where his father was a trombone player at the Air Force Academy. The family moved to Salem in 1981 where he graduated from North Salem High School.
During the 1991 Gulf War, “he was very traumatized,” his father said. “He was a changed person when he returned. He was nervous and suffered from terrible thoughts and nightmares.”
He left the Army in 1992 and joined the Reserves. He got married, had two daughters and moved to Kansas City, Mo. He remarried and had another daughter. To give his family greater stability, Walters re-enlisted last year and became a cook. He left for Kuwait in February.
This hits me so hard. With all the controversy over the elections, with Democrats lying to protect their power and wealth, with the actions of a moral and faithful man such as George Bush being questioned, I sometimes wonder if this nation deserves to go any further.
Organized crime has filtered itself into the media, local and federal government, and the minds of those whose only thought is "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?".
Some gave all. And this nation, in return, has given them very little.
Some gave nothing, and they want it all.
If Kerry or some other lying, selfish bastard wins this election, it's all over folks.
Maybe you can do the same for someone else.
I am in awe....because I fully realize.....he has fully elevated my freedom...by his tragically, astonishing, sacrifice.
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