Family's 'year of sadness' (dad a disabled vet, GI son killed, house burns

You gotta see this one!


http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-burnt02.html

Family's 'year of sadness'

January 2, 2006

BY CHERYL L. REED Staff Reporter



An Elmhurst family is homeless after a candle left burning on a shrine to their son -- a soldier killed six weeks ago in Iraq -- set their house on fire.

A picture of Christopher Alcozer marching in a Fourth of July parade and other memorabilia caught fire on the homemade shrine Tuesday night, and flames spread quickly. Many members of the family -- including kids and grandkids -- were upstairs watching a movie at the time. Smoke detectors alerted them and they were able to escape safely.

The absence of injuries was a bright spot in an otherwise horrible stretch for the family, beginning in 2004 when the family patriarch, Jesse Alcozer, lost his job.

-snip-

Jesse Alcozer, 57, a disabled Marine who was wounded seven times while serving in Vietnam, lost his machine-operating job when the plant where he worked closed. Unable to get work and with so much time on his hands, he began to think more about Vietnam and what had happened there. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and rated 100 percent disabled and unfit to work by Veterans Affairs doctors. But in October, the VA decided to cut Jesse Alcozer's benefits 20 percent and threatened to further reduce them by 80 percent, he said.

-snip-

more...

every time I hear someone say "but everything happens for a reason" I think of stories like this one. What would the reason be for such horrible luck? Why don't truly awful people who NEED to learn life's lessons-like *, Cheney, Delay, etc.- ever have the same sort of traumatic years? Recent years and stories like this have taught me that karma doesn't really exist. :-(

I would give.

The Alcozer family has endured a string of tragedies. They posed in front of their burned-out house last week. (BOB BLACK/SUN-TIMES)

n/t

This is certainly one of the saddest stories I've heard in awhile.

support the troops until they are of further use to them.

:sarcasm:

an additional 80%. Nice way to "Support the Troops". Un Huh!

:cry:

:(

horrible sign?
"...while a half-dozen protesters stood across the street carrying signs that read: "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."

I think this reporter was taken for a stroll down Strawberry Lane.

Everything is just so perfect: flagwaving, parade-marching, veteran hat wearing, seven times wounded, ...

The only thing missing is the family's parade-marching pooch being attacked and eaten by a pack of Cook County's famed coyotes.

The God hates fags idiot.

It is their own fault, they signed up to protect the rich, I mean America. They need to pull themselves up by their boot straps. :sarcasm:

Isn't that the repuke response to those who sacrifice for our nation and who fall on hard times?

Jesse Alcozer Family Fund
Community Bank of Elmhurst
c/o Nancy Brook
330 W. Butterfield Road
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Does anybody else hear bells ringing?

This guy's a low-level RW tool.

have been through the wringer bigtime. I feel really sorry for them

Son died in Iraq. House burned. OK, I get that.

Did the reporter check out the father's military service record?

Where's dad's seven Purple Hearts? Did the reporter see them?

I feel for the family too. I'm just wondering how much embellishing?

I've heard some BAD stories on DU about shitty 2005, but that is heartbreaking.

I am very much against the war in Iraq but to have protesters at this young man's funeral is beyond the pale.

Has anyone else heard of protester who do that at funerals.

People with signs against the war because people are dying would seem normal, but protesters with signs GLAD the soldier died, does not seem normal.

Other than that, gee these republicans will never learn will they.

Too bad they left a candle out and burned their own house down. Too bad their son voluntered to fight in iraq. Too bad the old guy is still getting jilted by the system and likely won't wake up. We can clearly see where he is on the matter - the flag is so important and his sons death medal.

ewww.

I'm sorry about a 21 year old dying. And it's sad about the house because it could happen to anyone.

I wouldn't go trying to make the left look bad for it though. Looks like he is the person responsible for what happened in his family. Bush wouldn't be the monster that he is, and this guys kid wouldn't be dead, if he and people like him didn't enable Bush.

Not long ago, I heard of this same group...some weirdos from some other state...They believe, if I remember correctly, that the war is God's response to Gay marriage, or some such nonsense. It's not Phelps group..That bastard only pickets the funerals of gay people, I believe.

On the brighter side, The lieutenant Gov. Pat Quinn is putting legislation forth which would prohibit such sacriliges (protests at funerals) from being held During the funeral or for 30 minutes before or after. It's called the "Let them rest in Peace" bill.

but what is even sadder and more pathetic...is that FR is blathering that Phelps is a Democrat...and based on what I have read, he may be a registered Democrat but he is not espousing democratic principles....so they can have him...

Isn't it interesting that republicans don't care about others peoples kids dying in this war. Then when they send their own kid and it happens it's suddenly a great tragedy and the Left wing is the problem.

He voted in the war, and still supports it - ala the flag and the sign.

I really think he's part of his problem. Flame away. Just don't accidentally burn down your house while doing it.