I recently read a book titled Final Salute, A Story of Unfinished
Lives, written by Jim Sheeler. It is the most difficult book I have
ever read. This is the story of several families of Marines who
have died in the Iraq War. Jim Sheeler writes about Major Jim
Beck, CACO (casualty assistance calls officer). This is the man who
knocks on the door of the fallen soldier’s home to notify family of
their death. Major Beck shares his emotions as he approaches the
family’s front door and coming face to face to a loved one of the
fallen soldier. The news that Major Beck is delivering will change
their lives forever.
Below I have included material from this wonderful book.
It was so very difficult to read each of the widow’s accounts of how they
were told and the struggles they endured through the process of their
husband coming home on the plane, being unloaded from the cargo hull, and
delivered to the place where the memorial will take place. It seemed as if
in every other page I was wiping tears as these brave families speak of
the immense pain over the loss they were dealing with in their lives. The
unborn children that will never see their fathers, the little toddlers that
can only kiss their daddy’s picture at night when they go to bed. The young
brave wife as she begins the long task of raising the children alone. Not to
mention the government paperwork and red tape they must go through for
burial benefits, death benefits, health insurance for the children. It just
seems to go on and on. When these young men leave their wives and
expected baby, or even young children, she is left to be the mom and the
dad. I cannot imagine undertaking that task while worrying and hoping that
their husband returns home safely. Then when he does come home he is
no longer alive and she must again, deal with a new set of problems along
with the reality that she indeed will be raising the children alone.
Between pages I often had to set the book down and get away from it for a
few moments because it truly was heartbreaking to read of their pain and
sacrifice. I find it remarkable the sacrifices the military family in whole,
from the loss of their soldier which will forever be a loss that they must
endure the rest of their living days, to the endless paperwork that must be
completed and returned to the government, to living life without their
loved one. I found it so horribly sad and painful. I guess it was so
difficult for me to read because if I was having trouble reading their
stories then I thought about how difficult if not near impossible it must be
for them to actually be the story, the ones living to tell it.
My heart goes out to all who serve our country and it also goes out to their
families and loved ones who are left behind while they are on the
battlefield and perhaps left behind because war has come knocking at their
door with the greatest loss they will ever have to bear. I felt driven to
read this book because of the fact of the bravery these soldiers display
just by enlisting in the military. I made myself read this book because of
the families in such pain. It seems such a bittersweet battle to love
someone in the military. You beam with pride over their honorable role in
the world and you are also downtrodden with worry and for some, for the
fallen, a pain and loss so many of us take for granted because we cannot
know their true sorrow and sense of loss.
Again, my heart goes out to all listed in Mr. Sheeler’s book and to all
military far and wide, past and present. It is the honor you stand for that
fills my heart with pride and I am proud to be an American and proud that
our country is full of many people who serve in the only job where you truly
offer up your life. What a commitment to make.
Though difficult, I am glad I read the book because I do not want to ever
take for granted what is given to me so willingly of the military personnel
and their families. I encourage everyone to read this book. It will indeed
remind you of the price that someone has paid for you to live in a country
where we may feel restricted at times, but we truly are free. We can go to
work each day and not really worry about being shot at, kidnapped,
arrested, murdered. We can vote without being reprimanded. We can
read whatever we want, watch whatever we want. Our children can go to
school and we do not have to worry about their school being bombed.
They can walk to school without us worrying that they will be caught in the
middle of some crossfire. Of course there is crime in our country, but
how many of us worry about such things everyday? We are fortunate to
live in a country such as ours. It is not perfect by far,. but we are not
trying to carry out our lives in a war zone. This book will also remind you
of the value of life, loved ones, family, and freedom.
Lives, written by Jim Sheeler. It is the most difficult book I have
ever read. This is the story of several families of Marines who
have died in the Iraq War. Jim Sheeler writes about Major Jim
Beck, CACO (casualty assistance calls officer). This is the man who
knocks on the door of the fallen soldier’s home to notify family of
their death. Major Beck shares his emotions as he approaches the
family’s front door and coming face to face to a loved one of the
fallen soldier. The news that Major Beck is delivering will change
their lives forever.
Below I have included material from this wonderful book.
It was so very difficult to read each of the widow’s accounts of how they
were told and the struggles they endured through the process of their
husband coming home on the plane, being unloaded from the cargo hull, and
delivered to the place where the memorial will take place. It seemed as if
in every other page I was wiping tears as these brave families speak of
the immense pain over the loss they were dealing with in their lives. The
unborn children that will never see their fathers, the little toddlers that
can only kiss their daddy’s picture at night when they go to bed. The young
brave wife as she begins the long task of raising the children alone. Not to
mention the government paperwork and red tape they must go through for
burial benefits, death benefits, health insurance for the children. It just
seems to go on and on. When these young men leave their wives and
expected baby, or even young children, she is left to be the mom and the
dad. I cannot imagine undertaking that task while worrying and hoping that
their husband returns home safely. Then when he does come home he is
no longer alive and she must again, deal with a new set of problems along
with the reality that she indeed will be raising the children alone.
Between pages I often had to set the book down and get away from it for a
few moments because it truly was heartbreaking to read of their pain and
sacrifice. I find it remarkable the sacrifices the military family in whole,
from the loss of their soldier which will forever be a loss that they must
endure the rest of their living days, to the endless paperwork that must be
completed and returned to the government, to living life without their
loved one. I found it so horribly sad and painful. I guess it was so
difficult for me to read because if I was having trouble reading their
stories then I thought about how difficult if not near impossible it must be
for them to actually be the story, the ones living to tell it.
My heart goes out to all who serve our country and it also goes out to their
families and loved ones who are left behind while they are on the
battlefield and perhaps left behind because war has come knocking at their
door with the greatest loss they will ever have to bear. I felt driven to
read this book because of the fact of the bravery these soldiers display
just by enlisting in the military. I made myself read this book because of
the families in such pain. It seems such a bittersweet battle to love
someone in the military. You beam with pride over their honorable role in
the world and you are also downtrodden with worry and for some, for the
fallen, a pain and loss so many of us take for granted because we cannot
know their true sorrow and sense of loss.
Again, my heart goes out to all listed in Mr. Sheeler’s book and to all
military far and wide, past and present. It is the honor you stand for that
fills my heart with pride and I am proud to be an American and proud that
our country is full of many people who serve in the only job where you truly
offer up your life. What a commitment to make.
Though difficult, I am glad I read the book because I do not want to ever
take for granted what is given to me so willingly of the military personnel
and their families. I encourage everyone to read this book. It will indeed
remind you of the price that someone has paid for you to live in a country
where we may feel restricted at times, but we truly are free. We can go to
work each day and not really worry about being shot at, kidnapped,
arrested, murdered. We can vote without being reprimanded. We can
read whatever we want, watch whatever we want. Our children can go to
school and we do not have to worry about their school being bombed.
They can walk to school without us worrying that they will be caught in the
middle of some crossfire. Of course there is crime in our country, but
how many of us worry about such things everyday? We are fortunate to
live in a country such as ours. It is not perfect by far,. but we are not
trying to carry out our lives in a war zone. This book will also remind you
of the value of life, loved ones, family, and freedom.
| Tribute to "Final Salute" By "Gracie" |
| Gracie's |
| Gripes, Griefs, and Gratitude |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Final Salute, A Story of Unfinished Lives, written by Jim Sheeler. Pages 147-149 “Major Beck has also personally witnessed missteps, such as the time a chaplain, confronted by a distraught mother cursing the president, told the woman there was no need for that kind of language. Major Beck pulled the chaplain aside and told him the mother could say whatever she wanted. “I think it caught him off guard. I don’t know what his thoughts are on the war – I don’t particularly care. But in that environment, his thoughts on the war don’t matter. Defending the president is not our role at that moment. The president doesn’t need our defense- particularly in that moment. The families need our defense – particularly in that moment. The families need us. What the moment calls for is for us to be compassionate, empathetic, and to try to understand where they are and how to navigate this. That’s what’s important, and politics has no room there. The best way to handle that situation is not to tell someone what they can or cannot do in their own home.” Also at the beginning of 2007 the Marine Corps instituted a notification policy similar to the Army’s --- that no knocks come between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. Major Beck says he understands the rationale, but he also questions the decision’s ultimate result. “I’m not real set on this one. I just follow my instincts as a CACO (casualty assistance calls officer), which says that sleep is overrated when it comes to the death of a loved one,” he said. “My instincts would be to instead mandate that the chaplain services are available to our CACOs at all hours of the day and night. “Period. End of story. God and the Marines serve day and night, so, too, should our chaplains. Not that some don’t it's just not a standard of excellence across the country….” Then he thought back to that porch in Wyoming, after midnight, in the snow. “Wouldn’t you want to know as soon as you possibly could?” he asked, “If it was your son, would you want us to let you sleep?” Many problems could be solved. Major Beck said, if everyone followed a simple principle: “To do this right, to do it properly, you have to look at these women as if they were your mother or your wife, and these men as if they were your father or your brother. And you have to ask, “What would I want someone to do if it were me?” The commitment starts when the door opens. It never really ends. “If you’re going to pass on a message with that kind of power, don’t you think that all your actions that follow should be equal to it?” he said. “Don’t you think so?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
