U.S. salutes Canadian with Arlington burial:

http://206.75.155.198/showfile.asp?Lang=E&URL=/archivenews/070301/NTNP/070301en.htm ^

[exg]

U.S. salutes Canadian with Arlington burial: John D. Rode: Soldier receives U.S. citizenship posthumously

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Decorated U.S. Army Sergeant John D. Rode was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honours yesterday.

The Trenton, Ont.-born 24-year-old was laid to rest in the Washington, D.C., military burial ground as an American after being awarded citizenship posthumously last week. He was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on Valentine's Day. Officials found citizenship application papers among his belongings.

Sgt. Rode's family has been flooded with letters from soldiers with whom he served, said his aunt, Catherine Brooks, in a telephone interview yesterday.

But the letters' contents did not come as a surprise.

"We knew everything that they said: that John was the first one to volunteer to help someone. He was part of a recovery unit, he put himself in harm's way. John died doing what he felt was right," she said.

Sgt. Rode was a Canadian cadet before moving to the United States in 1999 with his father, Tom, who served in the Canadian air force for 25 years. After high school, in 2000, John Rode joined the military as a system maintainer. He had been assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division since January, 2004, and was killed on his second tour of duty.

While on vacation last year, Sgt. Rode spent time with his family in Mary Lake, Fla., near Orlando and became a regular at Fast Break Billiards nearby. Rick Davis, a security officer at the pool hall whose 21-year-old son is a Marine, immediately felt an affinity with Sgt. Rode.

"He left a long-lasting impression, something I'll remember my whole life," Mr. Davis said yesterday, recalling an unexpected telephone message he received from Sgt. Rode's sister on Feb. 15.

"I thought she was going to tell me John was hurt real bad, that he was coming home, but never in a million years, I would never believe John was dead," he said. "It was like someone took and ripped my insides out, that was the pain I felt."

Sgt. Rode, deployed to Baqouba, was a member of the rapid response unit that rescues endangered troops.

Racing to the aid of fellow soldiers on Feb. 14, Sgt. Rode and two other soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device detonated near their armoured vehicle. It was the third time Sgt. Rode had been hit.

"It gets down to the point of never leaving a man behind and that was John. He would never leave anyone behind and he didn't care what he had to go through to do it. I mean, it's obvious, being blown up three times by an IED since he went back to Iraq, except the third time he wasn't as lucky," Mr. Davis said.

After only a few weeks hanging out at Fast Break, the Budweiser-loving Sgt. Rode won the respect of bartender and manager Shannon Booth.

"You know how you sense if someone is shady, or something is up with them, or, they're just there to vent and leave, but he came back on an everyday basis. We talked every day, shot pool together, went out to a few places. We would exchange numbers and when he comes back after leave, we were going to shoot some pool again and go out to the movies and this, that and the other, you know. We became really good friends," he said.

"There isn't anything bad I could say about him."

Aunt Catherine Brooks recalled one mourner who described her nephew as a "true warrior."

"He died a warrior's death and that's the only way he would have had it. He died a hero and not very many of us can say that when we go," she said.

"He wasn't meant for a heart attack or brain cancer, any of those things. He was meant to go the way he did."

On the final night before Sgt. Rode was redeployed, his friends at Fast Break gathered for a champagne toast to his well-being. Sgt. Rode offered to work as security at the door, rather than celebrate himself, Mr. Davis said.

Though Sgt. Rode did not speak often of his time in Iraq, it was obvious to Fast Break employees that he loved being a soldier, Mr. Davis said.

"It doesn't matter where you're from as long as you believe in the cause you're fighting for," he said. "[John] fought for what he believed in: freedom for people who can't afford it. When you fight for freedom, it doesn't care where you come from as long as you're a soldier in a fight for the right thing, and John was."

Krook@nationalpost.com KEYWORDS: WAR; IRAQ; ARMED FORCES; UNITED STATES

[exg]

ping

[Bringbackthedraft]

And to think there are 24 year olds living at home with their parents playing video games. This report brings tears to my eyes.

[fanfan]

Great post!

Canada ping.

Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[fanfan]

Ping!

[Jonah Hex]

May God bless you, SGT Rode...

[Fierce Allegiance]

The ultimate honor you can give a Canadian, let him be buried in the USA.

RIP Sgt. Rode, thabk you for your sacrifice.

[kevinm13]

If only our own youth had the courage and convictions of Sgt. Rode, this country would be a much better place. Thanks for your service and the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. We need more heroes like Sgt. Rode.

[GMMAC]

But, but ... "With friends like these, who needs enemies?" ~ Princip. Conservative

Apparently the U.S. government has gotten it wrong yet again - not withstanding a few obvious 'isolated exceptions':

Remarks at 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony With Citizens of Halifax ~ Secretary Condoleezza Rice, September 11, 2006

From Vancouver, B.C. to Chalmette, Louisiana ~ CTV News, September 6, 2005
"They were the first ones there and I know a lot of the people in the town were very surprised that the first rescue team that came was from Canada." ~ Kellie Richards, Karina survivor

"The Canadian caper" (1979-80 rescue of U.S. Diplomats from Iran) ~ Wikipedia

... and the likely all-time crowd-pleaser: "The Americans"
~ Gordon Sinclair, CFRB Radio, June 5, 1973 (Background)

[happygrl]

"He died a warrior's death and that's the only way he would have had it. He died a hero and not very many of us can say that when we go," she said.

Nodding through tears.

[SandRat]

[exg]

More here--in U.S. papers:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-msoldier2207feb22,0,3111446.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-citizen2807feb28,0,1516719.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

[exg]

Here's a picture of him:

[Frank Sheed]

May God grant you eternal rest, Warrior. Thanks for giving the U.S.A. the ultimate sacrifice!

Frank

[fanfan]

Hi Kevin,

I noticed you have quite a few links on your home page.

Do you have a link to the list of sites that have to be excerpted on FR?

Thanks in advance.

:-)

[fanfan]

Salute.

[pacersfinals]

I served with Sgt. Rode when he died. The mission that he went on was supposed to be mine. Sgt. Rode was one of my best friends. Because of what he did, he will always be my hero. I miss him more and more every day. He gave the sacrafice with a smile on his face. Sam

[Frank Sheed]

Dear Sam,

I don't know if you are at all religious. In the Gospel of John 15:13, Jesus said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."

This is what you witnessed first hand. Sgt. Rode was called in your place. I, for one, would consider it a total privilege to have known him. His legacy is now up to you!

I hope you choose wisely and decide to serve others in some humanitarian capacity. He is one who literally followed the greatest test that God laid down for us: that we lay down our lives for others. It would be the ultimate testament to him!

God bless, FRiend!
F