former green party candidates son blown up in iraq

[cleofus1]

Diane Benson's son got his legs blown off in Iraq...he did his time and then tried to get out...but becouse of the stop loss policy he was sent back and now he is in critical condition at walter reed......that is just the worst news possible...

link to the story

http://www.ktuu.com/cms/templates/master.asp?articleid=1927&zoneid=1

[tk2kewl]

1. That is the worst.

:(

Hang in there Latseen

[cleofus1]

2. Diane

a very strong and talented native women



"Anchorage, Alaska - She wasn't at a protest held today outside of Elmendorf Air Force Base, but she wasn't cheering President Bush either. Former Alaska gubernatorial candidate Diane Benson had her thoughts on her son, who suffered terrible injuries yesterday in Iraq. Diane Benson cherishes her box of photographs of her son's military service even more so today.


“All I know is I was abruptly woken at 8:20 in the morning Sunday morning, that something bad had happened to my son,” said Benson.



Benson's son, Latseen, a U.S. Army specialist, became the victim of a roadside bomb in Iraq. He lost his legs and still has not regained consciousness. Latseen Benson was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Benson says after her son’s first tour, Latseen tried to get out of the Army after his four-year commitment ended Oct. 31. But the military's stop loss order kept him in and sent him back to Iraq."

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Oh no!

:cry:

[Auntie Bush]

3. Damn...I wish that could happen to bush*...instead of her Innocent son.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. He was sent back with no legs?

WTF?

[madeline_con]

23. No, he got out, then was sent back and had them blown off...

:eyes: :)

[cleofus1]

5. clarification...

"Latseen Benson now clings to life at a hospital in Germany, facing a long road to recovery that will never make him whole. Benson says her son will be transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She says she plans to travel there in the next couple of days to be with him"

[cleofus1]

6. just a little background on Ms. Benson

Diane Benson was born in 1959, Yakima, Washington and obtained her B.A. degree from the University of Alaska. She is the founder of the Alaska Native performance and Film Commission in 1993; Artist in the Schools Residency Program, 1993 and the National Museum of the American Indian Consultant., 1991-92. Benson is a free-lance writer, talent agent and stage director. She also had a role in "Kusah Hakwaan", the first feature film made in Alaska by an Alaskan.

[cleofus1]

7. bump

for the Bensons

[tk2kewl]

10. .

[deutsey]

8. God damn this war

From the looks of it, it appears as though God already has...

[Just Me]

11. Oh, I'm so sorry!

:cry:

I fucking HATE this war!!! Hate it, hate it, HATE IT!!!

:cry:

[ClayZ]

12. .

:cry:

[Wheezy]

13. oh no.

:cry:

[EFerrari]

14. Oh my God.

I'm so sorry to hear this.

[jbnow]

15. A frightening part

is the article says he had still not regained consciousness.

The whole thing is horrible. That we ever got into this war still shocks me. This stop loss is horrible, the return trips to Iraq much to much.

Life without legs is very sad but if that was the only problem a life can be well lived.

Brain damage is another story. TBI has long term consequences and is an unspoken horror of this war. Fewer are dying because of great medical care being quickly available but the quality of life will suffer enormously.

I am so glad I have no child or loved one there but everyone there has parents, friends, beloveds, children and other family. My heart goes out to all of them but that doesn't heal a single wound or prevent a single death.

[TacticalPeek]

16. President Fucking AWOL

[MADem]

17. Letterman said it humorously last night, but the best humor is rooted in

brutal truth: Bush on his trip to Asia...skipping Vietnam....AGAIN.

That poor kid. That poor mother. That poor family, and community.

It cannot be pointed out enough--BUSH SKIPPED OUT. BUSH DIDN'T GO. Yet he sends others to be maimed, killed, and psychologically brutalized, for what?? Oil, money, power.

He is an unmitigated bastard. He plays with OUR military like it is his personal shoebox of plastic toy soldiers. BASTARD.

[TacticalPeek]

19. My son returned from al Anbar this year.

He got by with 'only' a concussion.

That, and the occasional jumps.


Best of luck to Latseen and his family and friends.

:thumbsup:

[MADem]

21. Is he still under medical care? Still in? Will he be sent back?

They are calling up old coots of my age and stage, and folks who have chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart problems, asthma....I hope your child gets to stay home, for good. He has done his turn in the barrel. And I hope he gets whatever care he needs.

[TacticalPeek]

25. I hope he stays out of Eyerack from now on, since it's a dishonorable war.

But he's a career special operator and this is the business he has chosen. And I'm immensely proud.

[MADem]

26. Eh...a huge conundrum for you.

I hope he stays safe, and you stay sane!!

You have every right to be proud. I'm sure you raised him right!

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

18. How awful

I hope that he recovers and comes home alive. 2050 others did not make it out

[Blue_In_AK]

20. Thanks for reposting for the day crowd, Cleofus...

This is just such a terrible story, made even more horrible by the fact that he should have been OUT OF THERE.

[Blue_In_AK]

22. A follow-up on Latseen from Alaskans for Peace & Justice

"Out of respect for the family we present the story without editorial comment. However, we hope all will reflect on this tragic loss.

After his vehicle hit a land mine, Latseen had one leg amputated below
the knee and the other above the knee. He lost a finger and is undergoing eye surgery. He has shrapnel lodged in his spine. The docror does not know
how that will affect Latseen yet, as he has been kept under sedation since.
Latseen was medivaced to Germany and will be sent to Walter Reed in
Washington, DC."

[annabanana]

24. How is stop-loss even legal?

How is this even possible. Time done isn't "time done".

[roguevalley]

27. this is horrendous. my deepest condolences to this family and my

thoughts, healing and otherwise, go to this young man. God bless all of them.

[cleofus1]

28. i believe some sort of fund is going to be set up

eventually...i will post information as i get it...