Religions > Atheism > Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michelle Malkin" |
| Date: |
06 Oct 2007 09:46:01 PM |
| Object: |
Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe |
First Pat Tillman, an atheist, possibly murdered,
now this, a lesbian possibly murdered. Who will
be next?
Kin say soldier hinted at concerns
Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe
By Michael Levenson and Noah Bierman, Boston Globe Staff | October 3, 2007
The Massachusetts National Guard soldier from Quincy who died Friday in
Afghanistan asked her relatives to press for answers if anything happened to
her while she was deployed, according to her family.
"She did say to us that she had concerns about things she was seeing when
she was over there," Ciara Durkin's sister, Fiona Canavan, said in an
interview with WGBH-TV. "She told us if anything happened to her, that we
were to investigate it."
Questions surrounding Durkin's death prompted US Senators John F. Kerry and
Edward M. Kennedy and US Representative William D. Delahunt yesterday to
call for the Defense Department to thoroughly investigate the death of
Durkin, a Quincy resident.
In a letter, Kerry urged Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates "to deploy your
staff on this matter immediately, so that the answers and circumstances
around Specialist Durkin's death are uncovered, expeditiously and
thoroughly."
Delahunt, a Quincy Democrat, said his staff met yesterday with Army
officials to find out how Durkin died. Kennedy's office said he had spoken
to Army Secretary Pete Geren yesterday to relay the family's concerns.
The Defense Department says it is investigating Durkin's death, which it
described as a "non-combat-related incident." Durkin's family says Army
officials have told them she was found with a single bullet in her head,
lying near the church where she worshipped on the secure Bagram Airfield.
The Army has not publicly disclosed whether a weapon was found near her
body.
The Massachusetts National Guard initially reported that Durkin was killed
in action, though a Guard spokesman later said the term meant only that
Durkin was serving in Afghanistan at the time.
"When confusing information comes in, which is contradictory, it raises the
level of anxiety during a very difficult time," Kerry said in an interview
yesterday. "It's very important to know what the facts are."
Canavan said yesterday that the family is trying to be patient as the Army
investigates. An Army liaison has met with the family every day, Canavan
said.
Yesterday, the military told the family that investigators have interviewed
every member of Durkin's unit "all day, every day."
Canavan expressed gratitude to Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, saying, "We feel
like somebody's got her back."
"It's just a matter of when are you going to let us know if somebody
accidentally killed her or purposefully killed her," Canavan said. "We're
not letting it go. . . . We're not for one minute accepting anything at face
value."
Canavan said the family was wondering whether someone might have targeted
Durkin because she was gay.
"Ciara was a lesbian, and that's bound to come out," Canavan said. "It is
possible that someone over there found that out, and, you know, maybe they
were very homophobic."
The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, Major General Joseph C. Carter,
pledged his support for the family.
"It is my focus to support the family by seeking the answers they need
regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Specialist Durkin,"
Carter said in a written statement. "Along with the Durkin family, we are
anxious for answers and are anticipating the conclusion of the
investigation."
Durkin, the eighth of nine siblings, was born in Ireland and moved to
Massachusetts at age 9. After working in information technology for a
healthcare company, she enlisted in the Guard two years ago.
Her family says she admired military discipline and wanted to serve her
country.
Kerry said the Durkin family desperately needs answers to three questions:
Why has the Army not responded to the Durkin family's request for an
independent autopsy?
Why, after not responding to the family's request for an independent
autopsy, did the Army fail to contact the Durkin family with the Army's
autopsy results? The family was told to be available to receive a phone call
between 1 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 1, and the Army never called.
Why has the Army refused to make Durkin's will and paperwork available to
her family, so they can respect her wishes as they plan her funeral and
burial?
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Withington, a Defense Department spokesman, said
yesterday that Gates had not received Kerry's letter but that the Pentagon
would respond.
"We do feel there's a great lack of information but we're trying to be
patient with them," Canavan said of the military. "They keep telling us
they're taking time so they get it right."
Michael Levenson can be reached at mlevenson@globe.com. Noah Bierman can be
reached at nbierman@globe.com.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe |
07 Oct 2007 01:31:33 AM |
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In article <VvydnXjWI93B1ZXanZ2dnUVZ_gudnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
First Pat Tillman, an atheist, possibly murdered,
now this, a lesbian possibly murdered. Who will
be next?
<snip>
The Defense Department says it is investigating Durkin's death, which it
described as a "non-combat-related incident." Durkin's family says Army
officials have told them she was found with a single bullet in her head,
lying near the church where she worshipped on the secure Bagram Airfield.
The Army has not publicly disclosed whether a weapon was found near her
body.
The Massachusetts National Guard initially reported that Durkin was killed
in action, though a Guard spokesman later said the term meant only that
Durkin was serving in Afghanistan at the time.
This tragic incident sounds to me suspiciously like the Pat Tillman
case. I wonder since both incidents happened in Afghanistan, is there a
connection?
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
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| User: "Michelle Malkin" |
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| Title: Re: Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe |
07 Oct 2007 02:58:30 AM |
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"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-C2434F.23313306102007@news.giganews.com...
In article <VvydnXjWI93B1ZXanZ2dnUVZ_gudnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
First Pat Tillman, an atheist, possibly murdered,
now this, a lesbian possibly murdered. Who will
be next?
<snip>
The Defense Department says it is investigating Durkin's death, which it
described as a "non-combat-related incident." Durkin's family says Army
officials have told them she was found with a single bullet in her head,
lying near the church where she worshipped on the secure Bagram Airfield.
The Army has not publicly disclosed whether a weapon was found near her
body.
The Massachusetts National Guard initially reported that Durkin was
killed
in action, though a Guard spokesman later said the term meant only that
Durkin was serving in Afghanistan at the time.
This tragic incident sounds to me suspiciously like the Pat Tillman
case. I wonder since both incidents happened in Afghanistan, is there a
connection?
And, how long will they continue to hide what actually
happened in both cases.
--
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
Michelle Malkin (Mickey) aa list#1
BAAWA Knight & Bible Thumper Thumper
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
When fascism comes to America, it will be
wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross -
Sinclair Lewis
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe |
08 Oct 2007 12:35:16 AM |
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In article <5rmdnYatspkKDJXanZ2dnUVZ_uiknZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-C2434F.23313306102007@news.giganews.com...
In article <VvydnXjWI93B1ZXanZ2dnUVZ_gudnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
First Pat Tillman, an atheist, possibly murdered,
now this, a lesbian possibly murdered. Who will
be next?
<snip>
The Defense Department says it is investigating Durkin's death, which it
described as a "non-combat-related incident." Durkin's family says Army
officials have told them she was found with a single bullet in her head,
lying near the church where she worshipped on the secure Bagram Airfield.
The Army has not publicly disclosed whether a weapon was found near her
body.
The Massachusetts National Guard initially reported that Durkin was
killed
in action, though a Guard spokesman later said the term meant only that
Durkin was serving in Afghanistan at the time.
This tragic incident sounds to me suspiciously like the Pat Tillman
case. I wonder since both incidents happened in Afghanistan, is there a
connection?
And, how long will they continue to hide what actually
happened in both cases.
These plus the growing Blackwater scandals. I hope US conduct in both
theaters of war gets a thorough investigation soon.
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Kin say soldier hinted at concerns: Senators, Delahunt ask for Defense Department probe |
07 Oct 2007 05:38:01 AM |
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On Sat, 6 Oct 2007 22:46:01 -0400, "Michelle Malkin"
<hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
First Pat Tillman, an atheist, possibly murdered,
now this, a lesbian possibly murdered. Who will
be next?
:
Bush??
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