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Updated: 7:18 PM Jun 27, 2006
Services Are Tuesday For Slain Texas Soldier
Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca will be laid to rest Wednesday in Brownsville, twelve days after he disappeared in an attack on a checkpoint south of Baghdad. Posted: 7:00 AM Jun 28, 2006 |
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(June 28, 2006)—Those who loved Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca the most, his family and his 18-year-old widow, will say farewell to the young soldier Wednesday during services in Brownsville.
Menchaca, 23, was one of two soldiers captured and killed earlier this month by insurgents in Iraq.
Menchaca’s remains arrived home Monday, escorted by a military honor guard.
His wife Christina buried her face in her hands and cried as her husband’s flag-draped coffin was removed from a military plane.
Menchaca will be buried along with a medal for being a prisoner of war, a Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star.
Congressman Solomon Ortiz, who was on hand for the return of Menchaca's body, said, "He earned them, he goes down with them."
Uniformed veterans, public officials and others streamed into the convention center in Brownsville Tuesday to pay their respects during a public viewing.
Maria Vasquez, the dead soldier’s mother, sobbed with her cheek against his flag-shrouded coffin in Brownsville, asking repeatedly in Spanish, "Why? ... Why my son?"
David Brown, a 48-year-old Army veteran, gave Vasquez an American flag and a card saying: "For evil to prevail, all that is necessary is for good men to do nothing."
Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas Tucker of Madras, Ore. were kidnapped during the attack on June 16 that claimed the life of Spc. David J. Babineau, 25.
A massive search involving thousands of coalition troops was launched in hopes of finding the two men alive.
U.S. soldiers found the mutilated and booby-trapped bodies of the two men three days later.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday in Redmond, Ore., for Tucker, who was 25 years old.
Menchaca, Tucker and Babineau were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Fort Campbell, Ky.
Maj. Gen. James Thurman, the commander of Fort Hood’s 4th Infantry Division and Multinational Division Baghdad, vowed Tuesday to bring those responsible for the deaths of the soldiers to justice.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of these great soldiers," Thurman said.
"We will remember their sacrifice; their commitment and contribution will never be forgotten. These soldiers represent the human dimension of war."
Click Here For U.S. Central Command Web Site
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