Normally I don't send out any mass messages, but for this article I read in todays paper I will make an exception.
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald
Killeen Daily Herald
Posted on: Sunday, May 20, 2007
Donna Kiernan's husband, Staff Sgt. Christopher Kiernan, wasn't afraid to tell higher-ranking soldiers how to do their jobs. He would say that if they did it right the first time, Chris wouldn't have to tell them, a family friend said Thursday.
Chris' death on May 6 prompted Donna to stand up to politicians and members of the media with words of her own.
"It's time they had a widow's view on the war," she said of officials in Washington.
She is critical of the steps American politicians are taking with Iraq – policies that her husband disagreed with in an e-mail he sent from Iraq to friends and family members just five days before he died.
A portion read:
"Then just this week the elected officials passed a defense bill with the withdraw of troops deadline. I can just say thank you to them for caring about us but also telling the enemy that America is going to quit. This is really not helping.
"If they would have done this in closed doors without the media it may have been good. But now that it is out there for everyone to know it just made my job harder. To work with these people you must first build their trust. Once you have that you can get a lot done. By telling them (we're) leaving and never coming back all that means is the terrorist will continue to do what they do because who cares the Americans are leaving.
"The people will never forgive us. I (feel) that this whole thing could have been handled differently and more (professionally). I am smart enough to know that there is nothing I can do about it and I will just make it work so I can (feel) proud of what I have done over here."
Donna said she is tired of the politicians' bickering and taking vacations while bullets are flying in Iraq. Their offices need to be lined with cots and they need to be fed Meals Ready to Eat so they can work 18-hour days and get three hours of sleep before getting up and doing it again – just like soldiers, Donna said.
"I don't feel like our government is doing enough," she said.
Donna wants to address congressmen and senators and ask them, "When was the last time you were in Iraq?"
So far, no politicians have contacted Donna, because, she argues, she has an opinion they don't want to hear.
"Not a damn one of them," she said. "But I'll be contacting them."
The war should have never started in the first place, Donna said, but Democrats and Republicans should make it their first priority and "get off their behinds and start working." Additional troops need to be sent in to deal with insurgents because soldiers are on their second and third deployments. They're exhausted and they need help, she said.
"Without additional troop support to straighten out this situation, our soldiers will pay with their blood and their lives," Donna said May 14.
Chris' death "isn't just going to stand for another number in the 3,000," Donna said, referring to the number of American servicemen and servicewomen who have died in the Iraq war. As of Saturday evening, the total number of U.S. deaths in Iraq was at 3,414, according to The Associated Press.
"I can't let Chris' story stop right here," she said. "I can't let his death mean nothing."
Donna's words may be full of anger, but they are strong and meaningful, she said.
"I'm not for the war or against the war," Donna said. "I'm for getting it taken care of."
She is also critical of the Iraqi government and the American media. Iraqi officials have broken their deadlines time and time again. They are walking all over American soldiers, and need to be held accountable, she said.
People of the United States are being insulted by the bombardment of news about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Donald Trump or Rosie O'Donnell, Donna said.
"This is news," she said of the soldiers. "That other stuff is just trash.
"We are sold short by the media because we don't get to hear stories about soldiers and how fatigued they are."
She wants to tell her story to NBC's Brian Williams because she feels that he cares and speaks well of soldiers.
Soldiers usually steer clear of voicing their opinions when it comes to policy and politics, but Donna is at a point where she doesn't have to worry about her husband getting in trouble because of their views, a friend and co-worker of Donna's said Thursday.
Soldiers can't speak freely, said another friend and co-worker, but Donna has a lot to say. She has already been approached by other military spouses thankful that she is speaking out, Donna said.
They have told her that she is saying what they have always wanted to say, she said.
Donna's main concern is for soldiers. She and Chris took special care of them when he was alive – inviting them into their home, cooking for them and showing concern for their well being – and now Donna is continuing that work at a higher level.
Chris' death has given Donna a new path and new focus, said her cousin, Jean Ann East. Donna is already a strong woman, but her husband's death has brought out an inner strength.
"She's going to be a voice and she is going to be a voice for the soldiers and take care of the soldiers' needs," East said. "She is not worried about anybody else but their needs."
Chris' younger brother, Sean, said he is not surprised Donna has been able to voice her opinions during what may be the hardest time of her life because she is an incredible source of strength.
"Both she and my brother understand what it meant to be a soldier and what it takes."
"She wanted to honor my brother, a soldier, but she also wanted to ... personify what we should all be doing to honor soldiers.
"She will survive this and that will get her through: her mission to take care of the soldiers."
Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at astair@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7547
"It's time they had a widow's view on the war," she said of officials in Washington.
She is critical of the steps American politicians are taking with Iraq – policies that her husband disagreed with in an e-mail he sent from Iraq to friends and family members just five days before he died.
A portion read:
"Then just this week the elected officials passed a defense bill with the withdraw of troops deadline. I can just say thank you to them for caring about us but also telling the enemy that America is going to quit. This is really not helping.
"If they would have done this in closed doors without the media it may have been good. But now that it is out there for everyone to know it just made my job harder. To work with these people you must first build their trust. Once you have that you can get a lot done. By telling them (we're) leaving and never coming back all that means is the terrorist will continue to do what they do because who cares the Americans are leaving.
"The people will never forgive us. I (feel) that this whole thing could have been handled differently and more (professionally). I am smart enough to know that there is nothing I can do about it and I will just make it work so I can (feel) proud of what I have done over here."
Donna said she is tired of the politicians' bickering and taking vacations while bullets are flying in Iraq. Their offices need to be lined with cots and they need to be fed Meals Ready to Eat so they can work 18-hour days and get three hours of sleep before getting up and doing it again – just like soldiers, Donna said.
"I don't feel like our government is doing enough," she said.
Donna wants to address congressmen and senators and ask them, "When was the last time you were in Iraq?"
So far, no politicians have contacted Donna, because, she argues, she has an opinion they don't want to hear.
"Not a damn one of them," she said. "But I'll be contacting them."
The war should have never started in the first place, Donna said, but Democrats and Republicans should make it their first priority and "get off their behinds and start working." Additional troops need to be sent in to deal with insurgents because soldiers are on their second and third deployments. They're exhausted and they need help, she said.
"Without additional troop support to straighten out this situation, our soldiers will pay with their blood and their lives," Donna said May 14.
Chris' death "isn't just going to stand for another number in the 3,000," Donna said, referring to the number of American servicemen and servicewomen who have died in the Iraq war. As of Saturday evening, the total number of U.S. deaths in Iraq was at 3,414, according to The Associated Press.
"I can't let Chris' story stop right here," she said. "I can't let his death mean nothing."
Donna's words may be full of anger, but they are strong and meaningful, she said.
"I'm not for the war or against the war," Donna said. "I'm for getting it taken care of."
She is also critical of the Iraqi government and the American media. Iraqi officials have broken their deadlines time and time again. They are walking all over American soldiers, and need to be held accountable, she said.
People of the United States are being insulted by the bombardment of news about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Donald Trump or Rosie O'Donnell, Donna said.
"This is news," she said of the soldiers. "That other stuff is just trash.
"We are sold short by the media because we don't get to hear stories about soldiers and how fatigued they are."
She wants to tell her story to NBC's Brian Williams because she feels that he cares and speaks well of soldiers.
Soldiers usually steer clear of voicing their opinions when it comes to policy and politics, but Donna is at a point where she doesn't have to worry about her husband getting in trouble because of their views, a friend and co-worker of Donna's said Thursday.
Soldiers can't speak freely, said another friend and co-worker, but Donna has a lot to say. She has already been approached by other military spouses thankful that she is speaking out, Donna said.
They have told her that she is saying what they have always wanted to say, she said.
Donna's main concern is for soldiers. She and Chris took special care of them when he was alive – inviting them into their home, cooking for them and showing concern for their well being – and now Donna is continuing that work at a higher level.
Chris' death has given Donna a new path and new focus, said her cousin, Jean Ann East. Donna is already a strong woman, but her husband's death has brought out an inner strength.
"She's going to be a voice and she is going to be a voice for the soldiers and take care of the soldiers' needs," East said. "She is not worried about anybody else but their needs."
Chris' younger brother, Sean, said he is not surprised Donna has been able to voice her opinions during what may be the hardest time of her life because she is an incredible source of strength.
"Both she and my brother understand what it meant to be a soldier and what it takes."
"She wanted to honor my brother, a soldier, but she also wanted to ... personify what we should all be doing to honor soldiers.
"She will survive this and that will get her through: her mission to take care of the soldiers."
Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at astair@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7547
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1 comment:
Well said.
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