Fort Hood's Fallen Heroes

CBS 48 Hours ^ | Nov. 16, 2009 | Staff

[La Enchiladita]

Capt. John Gaffaney

Capt. John Gaffaney, 56, was a psychiatric nurse who worked for San Diego County, Calif., for more than 20 years and had arrived at Fort Hood the day before the shooting to prepare for a deployment to Iraq. Born in Williston, N.D., Gaffney had served in the Navy and later the California National Guard as a younger man, his family said.

[La Enchiladita]

Photo gallery at link.

[Muddy168]

Heroes one and all...

[La Enchiladita]

I think so but this is no longer a trendy topic on Free Republic.

[Landru]

"I think so but this is no longer a trendy topic on Free Republic."

Not necessarily, my friend.
The Ft. Hood tragedy for many of us is painful, leaves me speechless to today, actually. But it'd be a mistake thinking I didn't care, too. I do. Deeply.

It's not a whole lot different than the twin towers in that respect. Only with the TTs people simply could not bear to see it again & again. Understandable.

Unfortunately in the case of the TTs the Liberal-Socialists used the revulsion against us for the purpose of dividing.

My .02, anyway. :^)

[livius]

This is so sad. And the press has forgotten them all, and is now making excuses for the evil Muslim who killed them.

[BIGLOOK]

I think so but this is no longer a trendy topic on Free Republic.

It's not that, 'Dita, it's just the barrage in the news of unfavorable decisions on the part of Holder and Obama to hold trials in NYC, lack of mission in Afghanistan, the Health care debacle and the Kow tow to the Emperor of Japan. All this in the last two weeks has everyone on edge.

It seems distraction and confusion are the policies of the administration. What's next?

[1_Rain_Drop]

Thank you for posting the link.

These heroes must be remembered. They did more for our country than the one who still breathes and stole their lives.

[La Enchiladita]

What happens is people go numb. The reality has not sunk in because we do not want it to be real.

A few days after 9/11, I remember the Today show took the video tape and re-wound it. I liked that and wished it could be the reality.

Yes, I suppose there is denial, but I want to look at the faces of these good human beings, their lives taken from them by EVIL, and know more about them and remember them.

It was forgetting that got us here and will lead to more. That makes me very, very sad.

[La Enchiladita]

All hell is breaking loose in this country. I turn on the radio but restlessly spin the dial. Mike Gallagher: “I’m so frustrated.” Dennis Miller: “I’m frustrated.” Hannity, Medved, et al.

A few days after the islamic terror at Ft. Hood, we get KSM trial in New York and it’s another WTF!!!

The Magic Eunuch continues his world tour, completely unaccountable for havoc wreaked in our nation and... yes, I am very ON EDGE.

((((Hugs))))
**Sigh**

[varialectio]

Just learned a couple of days ago that Gaffaney was a friend of my cousin and his wife in San Diego. She’s also a psychiatric nurse. He and his wife were at their wedding. A very nice guy and outstanding nurse.

My cousin, not a conservative, was livid that no one called out this jihadist years ago. He was also pissed at the coverage of the attack in the MSM.

This is angering a lot of people who voted for Hussein.

[La Enchiladita]

Hundreds gather to honor San Diego man killed in Fort Hood rampage

Capt. John Paul Gaffaney, 56, of Serra Mesa, was called a great patriot and given a 21-gun salute at a memorial service attended by several hundred people at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma.

Gaffaney, who was born in Williston, N.D., was a psychiatric nurse in his civilian job. He most recently worked as a supervisor for the San Diego County Adult Protective Services Department, where he helped elderly victims of abuse and neglect. Gaffaney had worked for the county for about two decades.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1973 and served for five years. In 1984, he joined the California National Guard and retired as a major in 1999. Three years ago he joined the Army Reserve.

Gaffaney had just traveled to Fort Hood to prepare for a yearlong deployment to Iraq when on Nov. 5... etc., etc. [we know]

[NordP]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS AND PINGING ME, La Enchiladita!

I have to post this, because I'm so proud of my husband...

My husband is a Patriot Guard Rider and this is his brief account of his experience:

Tarmac, MCAS Miramar: 100 patriots, standing formation. The breeze was barely perceptible until the jet taxied toward us; it gusted suddenly, to 10-15 knots; causing our flags to strain against their anchors on hand-crafted poles. The hearse passed through our ranks, we saluted. The sudden breeze dried our tears of sadness...

As he told me this story he said, "Honey, there wasn't a reason for the wind to kick up like that...sustained...for so long - the plane was FACING us --there was no jet blast from that direction...and the flags all at once ....flared out and stayed that way until the casket was loaded into the hearst."

It gave ME chills just hearing the story. ...

[NordP]

Take a look at these flags...now you can see what he means. There was no wind to speak of to do this, until that point.

[La Enchiladita]

I could feel it reading his words. I almost posted the link to the PG forum. They are so beautiful. Many thanks and hugs to your husband and you. Many tears. There is a brief slide show at the link in post #11.....

[NordP]

Thank you.

[SoCalPol]

Thanks for the ping La E
This was a hero serving his country.

Nord, knowing your husband I know he was proud to be there and tell him thanks.

[NordP]

Sending a big hug of gratitude your way, from both of us.

[La Enchiladita]

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (AP) - The family of a Tennessee soldier killed with 12 others in the [terrorist massacre] at Fort Hood grieved privately before his planned burial Wednesday with full military honors in Mountain City.

Army Spec. Fred Greene's family received visitors following private services Tuesday afternoon at a funeral home chapel in the tiny northeast Tennessee town.

The 29-year-old soldier will be buried Wednesday in the cemetery of the small Baptist church he had attended. Greene's survivors include his wife, two daughters and his parents.

Specialist Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn., went by "Freddie" and was active at Baker's Gap Baptist Church while he was growing up, said Glenn Arney, the church's former superintendent and a former co-worker of Greene's. "I went to church with him, knew him all of his life. He was one of the finest boys you ever saw," Arney said.

[La Enchiladita]

NORMAN - Army Spc. Jason Dean Hunt of Tipton was laid to rest on a breezy, overcast Saturday following a graveside service attended by scores of family, friends and soldiers.

Hunt, 22, joined the Army in 2006 and was preparing for a second deployment to Iraq. He served there previously for 15 months, and he re-enlisted during that tour.

Hunt got married to Jennifer Morgan on Aug. 22, three days before his 22nd birthday.

[La Enchiladita]

To be buried at Arlington: Lt. Col. Juanita Warman of Havre De Grace, Md., will be buried Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.

'This is not the way she was going to go'

Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, was a military physician assistant with two daughters and six grandchildren. Her sister, Margaret Yaggie, of Roaring Branch in north-central Pennsylvania, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that her sister attended Pittsburgh Langley High School and put herself through school at the University of Pittsburgh.