Fiance killed (in Iraq) days before wedding - Heartbreaking photo

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1744690,00.html



Johnna Loia planned on Friday to marry Brian Penisten, a Colorado Springs-area GI who boarded a helicopter Sunday morning in Iraq.

But instead of continuing the journey to his wedding, Penisten died with three other Fort Carson soldiers and 11 other Army men and women shortly after taking off. A missile struck the Ch-47 Chinook and sent it careening into an Iraqi field. In addition to the dead, 20 soldiers were injured.

Now, Loia, who planned to marry in a charcoal-gray dress that Penisten adored on her, must find something to wear to her 28-year-old fiancé's funeral.

"Why him? Why him?" Loia asked between sobs Tuesday. "He was almost home."

Welcome to Bushie America.

They shouldn't.

However I would like to take this opportunity to point out that Bush, Cheney Delay and pretty much anyone who will tell you your being unpatriotic for not supporting this war, never served themselves. Just a friendly reminder. However, these people shoudl not be used fo rpolitical gain. Let them speak out on their own if they want to.

It's acceptable in this society to allow soldiers to continue to die on behalf of a bogus war based on lies started by a commander in chief who gained office by installation of his father's friends on the Supreme Court,

BUT,

it is considered in poor taste to show a dead soldier's loved ones reacting in a human way to the news. What the fuck is that about? It's the same sort of thinking that permits the Pentagon to deny news organizations to film caskets arriving from Iraq...wouldn't be "seemly...". Horseshit.

Our timidity in using these images, which are just as much a part of reality as anything else, is another symptom of Progressive squeamishness, and part of the reason the ruthless republicans are destroying the country.

Tom Daschle, who was on NPR today pushing his fucking book instead of fighting in the Senate to minimize the damage reaked by Bushco, perfectly personifies this weak-kneed, nicey-nice attitude that will guarantee Dumbya's second term.

Damn! :eyes:

On edit: I pray that Daschle's book tanks.

the senses except when its sanitized. War is acceptable for any reason (Vietnam) except until ever aspect of the horror of it is published on the news day after day after day after day.

Why anyone?

Because Halliburton needs the money.

the number dead
and the number gravely wounded

and then look at the face of bush's america.

think she'll get her HUG?

a new circle of hell is being created for bushies, and it begins here.

killed fighting for Bush's illegal war. She had already received the Purple Heart for a previous incident.

Bosveld PFC Rachel Krista Heather

Age 19, died serving her country in the U.S. Army’s 527th Military Police in Iraq on Sunday, October 26, 2003 formerly of Berlin, Oshkosh and Waupun, WI.

She was born on November 7, 1983 in Neenah, WI the daughter of Marvin and Mary (Swonger) Bosveld.

She attended the Franklin Grade School and Perry-Tipler Middle Schools of Oshkosh and Oshkosh West High School in her freshman and sophomore years. Then transferred to the Waupun High School for her junior and senior years, graduating in 2002. After High School she joined the U.S. Army in the summer of 2001 prior to 9/11 in the delayed entry program. Rachel loved music and had played her violin during her school years and later became a member of the Beaver Dam Orchestra. Rachel also loved Art, Drama and Soccer.

PFC Bosveld left for the Army on 20 June 2002.

She was assigned to Alpha Company, 795th Military Police Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After completing Basic Training and AIT, she was assigned to the 527th Military Police Company on 15 November 2002 and became a driver for Charlie Team, 2d Squad, 2d Platoon.

In November and December 2002, PFC Bosveld participated in squad lanes and a platoon Exeval. On 1 March 2003, she deployed with her platoon to Camp Virginia, Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She crossed the line of departure into Iraq along with soldiers of the 527th Military Police Company, making history as the first Corps MP Company to enter Iraq. On the same day, her squad was selected to escort an unmanned aerial vehicle unit north to a position south of Baghdad. Her squad provided security for the unit until their return on 13 April 2003. She stayed with the 527th during the moves from Tallil airbase to Tikrit, and eventually to Baghdad. There, she provided security and law enforcement throughout the company’s area of responsibility, but primarily in the Abu Ghraib District. She provided security for Abu Ghraib police station and was a valuable asset in training the Iraqi police. While on a Joint patrol mission to Abu Ghraib, her vehicle was hit by enemy fire which caused her to sustain injury, and thus she was awarded her first Purple Heart.

PFC Bosveld’s awards included the Bronze Star Medal (Posthumouse), the Purple Heart - 2d award (Posthumous) and the National Defense Service Medal.

Rachel Bosveld will be greatly missed by her family and also the 527th, Military Police Company, both personally and professionally.

Survivors include her mother, Mary Swonger Bosveld, Oshkosh and her father, Marvin and his wife (Julie Steger) Bosveld, Waupun, WI. Also her beloved brother, Craig (MaryLou) Bosveld and their son, Brandon, Antigo, WI; step brother, Aaron U.S.M.C. (Heather Krebs) Camp Pendleton, CA; step sister, Jamie Krebs, at home in Waupun. She is further survived by her maternal grandmother, Marian Swonger, Sun Prairie, WI; and also several aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Douglas; maternal grandfather, Daniel Swonger and her paternal grandparents: Bill and Irene Bosveld.

Funeral services will be Friday, November 7, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the Berlin National Guard Armory (147 Memorial Drive follow hospital signs as it is directly west of the hospital on Memorial Drive), Mr. Stanley March and Mrs. Kevin Killam will officiate and burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery of Berlin with full military honors bestowed upon her.

Relatives and friends may call at the Wiecki-Skipchak Funeral Home of Downtown Berlin, (on main street which in Huron Street at Adams Ave.) on Thursday November 6, 2003 from 3 to 8 p.m. and may also call at the National Guard Armory of Berlin on Friday 2 hours prior to the service or from 9 to 11 a.m.

The Rachel Bosveld memorial trust account has been established at the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Berlin and can be forwarded to 123 West Huron Street, P.O. Box 270, Berlin, WI 54923

John R. Wiecki-Skipchak

Funeral Home

116 S. Adams Ave.

poor honey, she couldn't stop crying -

I know because Mr Bush said.

The whole wedding reception would have been blown up.