Election Proves Our Gi Son Died For Good Cause

Iraq Forum

By ANDREA PEYSER
NY Post

January 31, 2005 — HE DIED too soon. On the eve of Iraq's historic free election, Francis Obaji was laid to rest in the frigid ground of Arlington National Cemetery. Ten days earlier, on Jan. 19, Francis was killed in an enemy ambush in Baghdad. Ten days.

Had he lived just two weeks longer, Francis would have seen yesterday's culmination of everything for which he sacrificed, fought, prayed and died. He was 21.

Don't dare call it a waste.

At the mere suggestion that his son's passing might be for naught, Francis' heartbroken father, Cyril, did something extraordinary. He looked up from his tears. And he laughed. "Not at all," he said with a smile.

"He died for freedom," Francis' uncle, Kingsley Obaji, told me unwaveringly.

"He died doing what he believed in," said Kingsley.

"He was one of thousands of men and women who collectively made a difference in Iraq. There is no doubt in my mind.

"He died fighting for freedom. He believed in freedom."

What's more, Francis died knowing that he made a difference, his father said, and for a moment, pride overtook his sorrow. That knowledge means everything to Cyril Obaji.

Calling home on the telephone from Iraq, Francis would describe the tough job he and his comrades performed in often hostile conditions. He faced the danger with eyes open. Said his dad: "They were equal to the task."

"They knew at last freedom will prevail over there and democracy will reign," said Cyril.

"I do believe very strongly that one day the people over there will breathe the air of peace, freedom and unity.

"In the end, he's going to be an integral part of democracy."

I met the Obaji family at a Nigerian-style wake held in Francis' memory at the gymnasium of Roy Wilkins Park, down the road from their Queens Village home.

Hundreds of family, friends and neighbors gathered to tell stories about Francis.

"Everyone loved Francis," Cyril explained. "Let's get together and say thanks to God, instead of crying. Let's celebrate the life of Francis."

Throughout, Francis' mother, Violet, sat silently amid the crush of well-wishers, the weight of her son's loss visible in her downcast eyes. She seemed alone.

Francis Obaji was the eldest of five siblings. His sister, Marilyn, sat silently during the ceremony, and wept. She is 19, and extremely close to her big brother.

There also is Stanley, 15, and Helen, 6.

Climbing on his parents' laps was little Brian, who is 4, and doesn't seem to understand completely that Francis, his hero, is not coming back.

Born in Nigeria, Francis' father, a limousine company owner, brought the family to America a decade ago, settling first in Brooklyn before moving to Queens.

"He was just an American boy," said his uncle. "He loved this country, and he wanted to give back."

Francis was studying microbiology at Staten Island University, with an eye toward entering medical school, when 9/11 changed him.

On that awful morning, he was waiting for the ferry in lower Manhattan, and had a front-row view of the carnage. He walked nearly all the way through Brooklyn, before finding a ride back to Queens. In that time, everything he thought he lived for took a turn.

All of a sudden, life was no longer just about him.

At his graveside in Arlington, surrounded by more than 300 friends and relatives who traveled by bus, plane, car from New York and the Carolinas, Francis' uncle, Chief Sam Obaji, told mourners how the terror attacks drove Francis to change his life's path.

He had no choice.

"He suffered very much on 9/11, like so many others. He knew he was lucky he didn't die," his uncle told them. "He had to help humanity. To stop terrorism worldwide."

"He wanted to help create security and peace, not only to the people of the United States, but to the people of Iraq and all over the world," his dad told me.

Francis joined the National Guard in 2003, after the United States invaded Iraq. He did not tell his family, for he was certain they would object to him interrupting his studies. But he was determined to go to Iraq.

Four months ago, he shipped out to Baghdad with the "Fighting 69th," a unit that has suffered more than its share of losses.

Yesterday, Francis Obaji's relatives gathered in the family's Queens Village home. Cyril Obaji watched the Iraqi elections on TV nervously. Then he turned the set off. Then on again.

"We pray and hope the election will come out a success," Cyril told me.

"Then, Francis' death will not have been in vain."

When he last spoke to his parents, Francis Obaji said he expected to be home by Easter.

Now he is home.

Too soon.


http://i.cnn.net/cnn/CNN/Programs/paula.zahn.now/images/2004/12/custom.soldier.jpg

Sad, sad, sad, spin.

-HECK!

http://www.latimes.com/includes/ramirez/today_ramirez_20050130.gif

Didn't America think Communism would spread the same way? Hmmmmmmmmm.

-HECK!

As Franklin Roosevelt once reminded Americans, "each age is a dream that is dying, or one that is coming to birth." And we live in the country where the biggest dreams are born. The abolition of slavery was only a dream — until it was fulfilled. The liberation of Europe from fascism was only a dream — until it was achieved. The fall of imperial communism was only a dream — until, one day, it was accomplished. Our generation has dreams of its own, and we also go forward with confidence. The road of Providence is uneven and unpredictable — yet we know where it leads: It leads to freedom.

—President George W. Bush, in his State of The Union message.

The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else. That is one of the main differences between us and our enemies.
-- Geroge Dubya Bush, 2005 State of the Union address, Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2005


yeah right, George, if you say so

I mean I don't get it. Now he's talking about Iran and say nothing North Korea? NK is shipping uranium to terror-sponsored states and no urgency whatsoever.

I guess Kim Jung is located in the wrong region. As for not imposing our form of government, well that's just a ridiculous assertion. Given all the others I've heard from Bush, this one isn't surprising either.

Fight Them Until No Religion Is Professed Except For America!

http://www.inreview.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=536058

http://www.inreview.com/showthread....=371#post535882

http://www.inreview.com/showthread....=30688&forumid=371




I dunno, everyone was posting links, I wanted to too.

I'm sitting here and don't know what to say except y'all make me laugh. You are just too funny. It's like both side trying to move a mountain.

It's comedy, to be sure.

-HECK!

I think it's great that we saw a large segment of the population coming out to vote, but I think that was expected anyway, but I am saddened to see the way the Sunnis were brushed off, with a preference to label them as Saddam sympathizers rather than listening to their concerns that they may become a marginalized minority.

I feel an adequate comparison would be the formation of our own country and the large states brushing off the smaller states' desire for a government that isn't only proportional representation. As if they said, "No compromises, no Senate, if you don't want to take part in this election, tough."

I got that feeling with this election and I think a democracy is more than just voting, it's debate and discussion in the country, something I found lacking in our most recent election.

You know what's interesting, I saw an Iraqi in an interview, some big whig it might have even been the PM.

He said that there is no division between Shi'ite and Sunni. The division is between insurgents and non insurgents. They don't look at Shi'ite and Sunni as all that much different. It's like Methodist and Luthern or Baptist. The difference come in their religious beliefs and where they go to pray. Normal day to day they are all mixed together.