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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Grief and the Osprey
To the editor: I am the mother of an 18-year-old Marine who was killed in the crash of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft in the Arizona desert on April 8, 2000. I am reeling from what I have read in this article (“Osprey or Albatross?” July 7, 2004) regarding the death trap known as the MV-22 Osprey.
I find it completely disturbing that someone like U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who “does not see any defects in the V-22”, would not answer a question put to her about the safety of something as dangerous as the Osprey. Perhaps she should visit just one of the families who were handed what was left of their kids in a flag-draped box. Perhaps it is because Sen. Hutchison and her cronies do not have to fear living through the hell we have had to deal with, since their kids will never step on board an Osprey. She will never have to see the autopsy photos of what was left of her 18-year-old son after his charred and mangled body is pulled from the ruins of a piece of garbage like the MV-22.
My son and the other young men who died with him did not join the Corps to be guinea pigs for someone’s pet project. They did not put their lives on the line so politicians could make their wallets fat while those of us who are left to bury our kids live our lives out in crippling grief. Our sons were proud young men who wanted to fight for freedom. Ms. Hutchison and her cronies, who bury their heads in the sand while making money from Osprey lobbyists, should answer to all the families for their selfish disregard for the lives of our kids. Pull your head out of where you have it so firmly planted, Senator. The Osprey is a killer, and if you close your eyes to that truth, then you should be held accountable for the deaths of any future Marine or soldier because of the Osprey. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Michele Fentriss
Portland, OR
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