A Soldier's Story

What follows is not a Hollywood story of rockets and men hitting the beach, on the contrary, it is the story of one man, one soul who lost his life serving his country. It is a heartfelt synopsis by CJ, of a U.S. Army Soldier, CPT James A. Funkhouser Jr, who died Tuesday May 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving his country.

On a personal note, CJ is a soldier, like so many others and so many before him, but he is special, he cares about the humanity and sacrifice of those in service to their country and those who have served. Not only the military, but also the world needs people like him. God Bless my Brother.

CJ:> I wrote this on ASP, but wanted to send to everyone as well. Feel free to link to the post and please pass this around to as many as you can. I spoke with the father of this fallen soldier today on the phone and here is his son's story:

I've harped on how the media has gushed about the fact that two journalists died in Iraq and glossed over the soldier who died. I know that the military won't immediately release names until the families, but the media doesn't even attempt to explain this.

After a call to US Army public affairs, I was able to confirm that the anonymous "U.S. soldier" who died on Tuesday was CPT James A. Funkhouser Jr., affectionately known as Alex. He was named after his father, James A. Funkhouser Sr., a 31 year retired Army veteran.Alex was born in Okinawa, Japan, while his parents were stationed there. Growing up he was an active child. His father told me that he "liked doing things." He read a lot and was just a normal boy. Between the ages of two and twelve, he lived in California. Then they moved to Texas. Alex fell in love with Texas, who wouldn't?

He joined the Army in 1993 as an enlisted soldier and worked his way through the ranks to Staff Sergeant. He then took a Green to Gold scholarship and in 1999 was commissioned as a Lieutenant into the US Army by his father.

In January 2006, Alex deployed with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He served as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander and was dual hated in charge of training the Iraqi Army. According to emails received last Friday and a phone call on Sunday to his wife, things were going well.

On Monday, Alex's wife Jennifer returned with the kids and her parents from Corpus Christi. As she was getting their two daughters, Kaitlyn, 4, and Allison, 2, settled down and ready for bed there was a knock at the door. Opening the door, Jennifer was greeted by soldier in their dress uniform there to notify her that her husband had been killed in Iraq.

Capt. James A. Funkhouser, 35, of Katy, Texas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 29, of injuries sustained when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during reconnaissance patrol operations. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters.

Alex was in the business of helping people. He was directly responsible for ensuring that the Iraqi security forces were trained and operational so that other soldiers could go home sooner than later. He loved his job and the military profession. It is people like him that Iraqi citizens have to thank for freedom. It's people like him who we Americans have to thank for our freedoms. Those same freedoms we often take for granted, forgetting the sacrifices that make them possible.

While I was talking with Alex's father on the phone, he mentioned that CNN was in the living room speaking with Jennifer. Having not been very impressed with CNN, I'm anxious to see what spin they put on the story. I just want to put a name and a face behind the "U.S. soldier" that died in that blast protecting journalists. The same profession that hasn't publicly thanked him for all that he did while they were alive. I'm thanking him now.

To Alex's family, I have never lost a family in combat, so I cannot feel your pain. I've lost friends and fellow soldiers who only minutes before their deaths were watching my back as I watched theirs. I truly hope that you understand the honorable sacrifice you have made and never forget that Alex's death was not in vain. History will forever be grateful for the mission he was on when God took him from this earth to help greet other soldiers coming home. May God bless you in your time of suffering. If there's anything I can do, please feel free to contact me.


A Soldier's Perspective
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