While leaving D/FW International airport yesterday, I spotted the escort procession of this young Marine reservist leaving the airport on the service road. I was finally able to look at the PGR-North Dallas calendar to see what their mission was.
I found the following report filed by the local CBS news affiliate:
The father of an Arlington Marine reservist says he’s not interested in placing blame as officials explore whether his son died in what could be the first case of American troops killed by a missile fired from a U.S. drone.
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Smith said he’d like to meet the family of the service member who fired the missile remotely, to offer his support and forgiveness. “Whoever was at that joystick, flying that drone, is someone else’s son, that’s just as dedicated as my son,” he said adamantly. “And I assure you if that drone was flown over there it was flown over there to save my son and his men not to harm them in anyway.”
Truly a sad homecoming for this young Marine and his loving family and friends. My deepest condolences for the family. The fact that Mr. Smith can be so understanding in such a difficult time, is an indicator of his good character and an indicator of the type of young man he raised to serve this grateful nation.
Thanks to D/FW airport, local law enforcement and the PGR for their display of honor and respect to our fallen Marine.
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May God comfort Staff Sergeant Smith’s family, friends and fellow Marines.
RIP Jeremy Smith
I’d guess Jeremy’s dad himself was in the military. That would partly help explain his understanding of the situation.
After my brother was killed by a drunk driver, I learned, talking with the drunk driver’s mom that she herself had lost a sister to a drunk driver years before that. But it gave her a perspective she might not have had otherwise.
She was very understanding toward me.
I received several sincere apologies from her son in letters for his behavior in causing my loss.
He knew that I accepted his apologies, which helped him as well.
He was 18 when it happened, but he was not the typical drunk driver.
MADD statistics show that 90% do not apologize to victims or families of victims when they kill someone.
Sorry that’s off topic.
My point is you never know what family members have gone thru, themselves, to give them the unique perspective they have of a situation.
My brother was a Marine in Viet Nam in ’65-’66 one of his favorite quotes;
“Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your
share”.