In Support of Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa's Children

I trust the moderators will tolerate a first-time threadmaker and help me to put this where it goes.

Building from the David Bloom support thread, I begin this thread to direct attention to the recently established trust fund for the two children of Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa. She perished in combat when the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in southern Iraq, and leaves behind two children. She was the first woman to die in combat, and one of the small number of Native American women in the U.S. military. She served her country and her tribe with honor and dignity as a warrior.

I know that the Special Forces have both survivor trust funds and college education trust funds (for dependents). Is there something for the Marines as well?

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (www.marine-scholars.org) has served that purpose quite admirably since 1962. The children of a number of my fallen friends had their tuition paid by the fund, so I can attest to its mission and its success. It is a well-managed charity.

A newer foundation is the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (www.mc-lef.org), which was expanded to include law enforcement after 9/11. It has an outstanding board of directors, some of whom I know personally or have served with, and all of whom I greatly respect. The foundation has no employees; virtually all expenses are absorbed by its officers and volunteers, so all gifts will reach their intended recipients.

I am sorry PFC Lori Piestewa died and am grateful for her service to the country. Having said that, I have a question about her children which is: don't they have a father(s)? This seems to be elephant in the livingroom that no one is talking about.

Have fathers become so unimportant in America that there is absolutely no need to mention them at all?

A woman with tiny children has no business in a combat zone or even the armed services.

I honor this woman. She gave her life for her country. And it is extremely difficult to raise children being a single parent. I know; I did it. She was working hard to support them and I appreciate her for that as well. Actually, I think that signing up for reserve service is an excellent way for parents, especially single ones, to help support their families. But I agree with you that she shouldn't have been in a combat zone. I think it's a pity that the feminists have used female reservists to accomplish their political purposes, especially when most of them would never have the courage to be in the military like this young woman.

Thank you, Herodotus, for posting this. I would be interested in contributing for these children.

I find it amusing that people can condem single mothers for going into combat, but I can't help but notice those condeming us women don't have to courage to go to war themselves. I have been in the Marine Corps for over 5 years now, and I proudly await my orders to Kuwait.

PFC Piestewa had something that all of you 'liberal posters' will never have. The guts to defend your right to condem her. She like the rest of us 'single military mothers' was proud of who she was, and where she came from. What makes the fact that she was a single parent separate her from military people without children. What about all of those single fathers who have to take care of their children alone. Why is it ok for then to go to war?

I know that just like PFC Piestewa's children, my son will forever be proud of the fact that his mom hand a hand at shaping the country, when so many grown man lacked the courage to do so.

It all goes back to the old saying: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Or as I like to say. People with only one leg to stand on, should learn to stand still, least they fall on their face.

My best wishes and reguards to PFC Piestewa's children. It is nice to know that they will grown up in a supporting community who will carry their mothers memory with them always. I think the idea to rename Squaw peak is very admirable.

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