Ex-VMI cadet killed in Afghanistan
The flag-draped coffin that President Barack Obama saluted early this morning at Dover Air Force Base contained the remains of former cadet at Virginia Military Institute.
The body of Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, was among the remains of 18 Americans whose return home the president witnessed in a solemn pre-dawn tribute.
Griffin, of Terre Haute, Ind., attended VMI for three semesters, beginning in fall 1999. He was remembered today on the Lexington campus for the unusual honor of being named the most outstanding wrestler in a championship tournament when he was just a freshman.
Obama took part in a process the military calls a "dignified transfer" of the remains of 15 soldiers and three Drug Enforcement Administration agents.
The transfer of Griffin's remains at the Air Force base in Delaware was the only one held in full view of the media.
Griffin was among eight soldiers killed when their personnel vehicles struck roadside bombs in Kandahar province. The other Americans honored at Dover were 10 people, including the three DEA agents, killed in a helicopter crash returning from the scene of a firefight with suspected Taliban drug traffickers.
With Griffin's death, VMI has had 12 alumni and one former faculty member killed in hostile actions since Sept. 11, 2001.
Even with the nation at war in two countries, however, VMI has seen a steady growth in its enrollment.
"I know it's sort of counterintuitive," said spokesman Stewart MacInnis. But VMI is "seeing record enrollment and more inquiries and more applications than ever."
This fall VMI enrolled 1,500 cadets, up from 1,428 last year and 1,378 the year before.
Also increasing is the number of cadets who enter the military after they graduate. Historically, about 18 percent of VMI cadets make a career of the military, although more will serve one or two tours of duty, MacInnis said.
In the 1990s, after VMI ended a mandatory commissioning policy, only about 30 percent served in the military.
But 52 percent of cadets in the Class of 2009 were commissioned, MacInnis said.
There's "something about this particular generation," he said, that it includes so many people "who care and want to serve."
Reader Reactions
I’ve just come from the page with the AP article about the same event, and what makes me sad is that so much of the commentary becomes personal, which shuts off the opportunity for debate. I too would like to see more unity, and respect for other positions. When I see the CIC saluting those who have made the ultimate sacrifice I tend to take it on face value, as I would have done had I seen Pres. Bush do the same. If he did do so, I missed that, and that’s too bad. I grew up attending Veteran’s Day and other commemorative occasions at which our fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines were honored, and I am puzzled by those who think that if I or anyone doesn’t have a family member currently serving that I don’t know what I am talking about. It is precisely because I haven’t that direct experience that I wish to show my respect—and I am glad to see others doing the same. It would be so nice if instead of someone leaping to assumptions (which SSG Nixon did not do) we could ask each other questions, rather than making attacks. We could listen, which might truly lead to common ground.
I agree It is interesting how we see things differently. And that makes my point. like I said, I respect the president, but the political environment is volatile in our country as you just illustrated with your reference to our previous Commander military service. I am neither right or left, I respected Pres. Bush and I respect Pres. Obama - I think he should have though about the implications on this change in policy. It is not consistent with his statements of wanting to unite us. It is just further driving the divide. You nor I honestly know the motivation for this, but it is obviously a change in policy that know has us on different sides of a fence - so how does that get us any further to a united country?
It’s interesting how we see things differently. I saw the picture and heard the story of the President going to Dover, and was so pleased that he did, that the ceremony was recorded and talked about. Under the previous administration the cost of the war was not talked about or permitted to be shown in this detail. We should always know and recognize the consequences of these military decisions. Pres. Obama may not have served, but at least he didn’t ask for a deferral, and he showed up to honor the dead, not just cheer on the living.
The Photo Op by our President on your front page enrages me. He is our Commander In Chief, and I would follow out his orders to the end, however It upsets me to see this image. He has not proven himself to those of us in uniform. So how dare he parade himself in-front of the fallen. He has been critical of the mission and that is fine. But don’t stand there somber looking when you are questioning what this soldier died for. How about being modest and don’t take a camera with you and go console this poor troops family. Those of us in the military can see through this photo, we have all been a part of some dog and pony show with politicians in our career. Again, I respect the President and the office he holds, but I ask that he re-review what a dignified transfer is and think about the feelings of family that is seeing this on the front page today. It could be respect of his service or It could be anger at the decision to go to war, or all of it could be avoided by a kind word and support and a quite return home to your family - not a published photo of your sons draped coffin on the front page of the paper next to a president that has yet to display his understanding of war - good or bad.
And sense our president does not like to say it - May God Bless America
A very Sad day for our country and for his family. We should seriously consider pulling out if we do not change the Rules of Engagement that our troops have to live with under NATO and UN supervision. They should be able to fire when they feel threatened. Anything else is too dangerous. Otherwise let’s get out now!
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement