第一個戰死伊拉克的中國籍美國兵
此文根據與住在美國加州棕櫚泉市的老朋友的聊天記錄整理而成。經朋友同意發表於此。 上周五(2007年1月20號)上班的路上一則當地新聞震憾了我:戰死在伊拉克、家在本地的一個美國士兵的葬禮,如果他的在中國的父母的特別簽證順利並能及時趕來的話將於下周一舉行。 為什麽他的父母要簽證才能來美?他是怎麽當的兵?他的父母親人如何能受了如此的打擊?我能為他們做什麽嗎?一下子感覺戰爭離我們竟是這麽的近。這些天比較忙沒注意看新聞,不過文學城還是天天上的沒見有報道啊?! 上網查,中文媒體隻有SOHU有一則短消息: 華裔美兵殉職伊拉克 施瓦辛格令州降半旗 美國2003年起派兵進駐伊拉克,駐伊美軍的死亡人數不斷上升,陣亡士兵當中亦包括華人。上周一名來自加州的華裔美軍在伊服役時殉職,州長阿諾·施瓦辛格深表哀悼,並慰問陣亡士兵的家屬,州府更是降半旗致哀 在伊服役的陸軍上等兵孫明(譯音)上周二負傷殉職。國防部表示,20歲的孫明當時在巴格達附近的地區執行戰鬥巡邏任務時,遭武裝分子以小型武器襲擊受傷,經搶救後不治。 孫明先前在科羅拉多州集訓,隨後被派往伊拉克。加州州長施瓦辛格獲悉孫明陣亡的噩耗,已致函表示哀悼,並表示孫明的勇敢和獻身精神,將永存國民心中。文/聞慧 周六有新聞報道孫明的遺體運回來了,他的親屬和朋友以及一些退伍軍人在棕櫚泉國際機場迎接,遺體緊接著被運到幾英裏外孫明的家所在的大教堂市的一間教堂。 Filled with grief, relatives of U.S. Army Pfc. Ming Sun react at the sight of the casket of the 2004 Cathedral City High School graduate, Saturday morning at the Palm Springs International Airport's Atlantic Aviation terminal. Pfc. Sun was killed Jan. 9 in Ramadi, Iraq.
The Family of Ming Sun, a 2004 Cathedral City High School graduate grieve over his casket Saturday morning at the Atlantic Aviation portion of the Palm Springs International Airport. Sun was killed Jan. 9 in Ramadi, Iraq,
周一再次上網查出一些有關消息,得知上午的追悼儀式和下午的葬禮如期舉行,葬禮後在孫明家位於棕櫚泉的餐館有一個Memorial refreshments。讀了這條我恍然大悟,那家餐館老板是姓孫,去那家吃過幾次飯,也通過朋友對孫老板的背景和為人略有所聞。難道是他的兒子?網上還說孫明是第一個戰死伊拉克的中國人。“He is the first Chinese national, fighting in the American military, killed in Iraq, officials said.” 葬禮結束後軍官把軍功章和公民證交給他父母,也就是說這個20的男孩是以中國人的身份為美國而戰的。了解了這些以後才知前麵說的“父母的特別簽證”應該不是父母,也許是父母的其它親屬。 下班的路上繞道上他家的餐館看了一下,正好遇到一個熟悉的中國人,她這些天一直在孫家幫忙。孫家的餐館十幾天來一直沒有停業全憑朋友們自願幫助。據說這孩子一直想當兵,終於拿到綠卡後馬上就進軍營了。父母不同意,他全力堅持,沒辦法隻好隨他。在伊戰已經因為非常勇猛立功一次,前不久還告訴家人想再立新功。當兩個報喪的大兵敲開他家門,隻有英語不是很好的母親一人在家,兩個大兵肅立一句話不說,母親頓時就要瘋了。 孫明是是陸軍步兵。據說去年8月才開始接受新兵訓練,不到3個月就被送上伊拉克戰場。1月5號還和父母通過電話並伊妹兒了幾張照片,還說2月份就可以回來探家。這次巡邏時遭遇伊方襲擊受傷,因為有鋼盔和防彈衣,他是麵部被擊中。經緊急搶救10小時終也回天無力,1月9號就死在伊拉克了。遺體的麵容可能是蠟像,告別的時候母親大喊:這不是我兒子!可憐的孩子,安息吧。可憐的父母親人,祝福你們平安!! Zhi Feng Liu reaches for her son's casket after services for the fallen soldier in Cathedral City on Monday, January 22, 2007.
Mother of Ming Sun Zhi Feng Lui, right, and father David Sun say final goodbyes as their son Ming Sun's casket is carried away after services in Cathedral City Monday. 其實左邊帶眼睛露半邊臉的才是他父親
Friends of Ming Sun are overcome with emotion as they leave the memorial service in Cathedral City on Monday, January 22, 2007.
為戰爭中所有的死難者,包括伊拉克的平民百姓們,哀悼!希望這場伊拉克戰爭能早日結束!!
圖片取自當地新聞網站。附當地報紙的報道:
Pfc. Sun laid to rest as an American Family, friends, city officials salute slain GI RaNeeka J. Claxton The Desert Sun January 23, 2007 January 23, 2007 Pfc. Ming Sun is an American citizen now. At his funeral Monday, the Army presented Sun's parents with his Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal and U.S. citizenship certificate. Sun came to Cathedral City from China on a green card when he was 8. He always wanted to be a soldier, especially after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The 20-year-old was killed this month by enemy fire in Ramadi, Iraq. "For what Ming did, we can never repay him," a tearful Cathedral City Mayor Kathy DeRosa said. "This will always be Ming's home." About 200 family members and friends wept silently during the service at Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cathedral City. The flag-draped casket, open at the end of the service, was flanked by his Army picture and a rifle. Sun's squad leader, Sgt. Robert Griffith, said they "have lost a brother." "No speech will ever be as great as the person he was," Griffith said. "It was an honor to know a great soldier. He was one of the best. Anyone who knew him won't forget his smile. He was very proud of everything he did." Friend Kenny Wu remembered when Sun came back to Cathedral City from his Army training. "He tried to convince me to go to the Army," said Wu, 18, of Indio. "We used to swim and play video games. I'm sad now because we can't hang around anymore," he said, starting to cry. Outside the funeral home, Sun's friends hugged and huddled in a circle with their heads down. Each with one fist in the air, they yelled: Ming! REMEMBERING A HERO A tree will be planted in Pfc. Ming Sun's honor at Cathedral City's new Patriot Park at the corner of Date Palm and Dinah Shore drives. Sun was buried at the Riverside National Cemetery.
網上談兵
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