Small Town Pays Big Price In Iraq

(CBS)  If you somehow found your way to an out-of-the-way town amidst the cornfields of central Illinois, you might think the only thing remarkable about it was its name, CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports.

But what has put Paris on the map in bold face is the tremendous price it has paid half a world away: five dead and 24 wounded.

"The impact was devastation, the impact was loss, or sorrow," says Mayor Craig Smith

Just about the whole town turned out in December 2003 when Paris' National Guard Unit, the 1544th, shipped out. Back then folks there — like many Americans — believed this war would be over quickly. In, out, and home.

"Come home? Oh yeah. I don't know who wouldn't want to come home," Sgt. Shawna Morrison, with the 1544th Transportation Company, said back then.

But 26-year old Shawna Morrison didn't make it home Neither did 23-year-old Jeremy Ridlen. Or 23-year-old Charles Lamb. Or 21-year-old Jessica Cawvey, who left behind a little girl. Or 44-year-old Ivory Phipps, a father of three who died the very day he arrived in Iraq.

In the town that's always worn its patriotism with pride, more and more people are asking questions. Morrison's father is one of them.

"A lot of people think it's about time to end the nonsense and bring our troops home, but I mean, we're stuck," says Rick Morrison.

Aaron Wernz nearly died in the same mortar attack that killed Morrison. Although, he's out of the Guard now and back on his family farm, he still believes the war in Iraq can and must be won.

"It's not working. That doesn't mean it won't work. That doesn't mean it can't work. Democracy never comes easy. Our own didn't," Wernz says.

No one is praying harder for it to work than brokenhearted parents like Rick and Cindy Morrison.

"Losing her that far away" has been the hardest part, Shawna's mother says. "She was always saying, 'Mom, I'm coming home.' And she died so far away."

It's taken a toll on the city. "It's not a big city where you don't know whose kid is over there. We feel it day to day, whether our kids are over there or not. We know somebody else's child is over there, and we want to know what's going on and when is it going to be over," says Smith.

Those are key questions in a small town where a war 6,000 miles away has hit too close to home.

[mljordan0604]

Obviously, that child was not thanking the troops for the war. That child was thanking the troops for the HELP we were giving them. As a matter of fact, there were several Iraqi adults that were thanking us for our help as well. And you can't tell me that the adults don't understand politics. I am NO fool. I have been there and seen this first hand. Have you?

[dallison7]

You take one look at an Iraqi child waving at a US convoy and the smile on his face and the "Thank You" coming out of his mouth; and you will see all of the good things we are doing.

The 'Thank You and Smile' were more than like for the small bit of food that the soldier shared with her. Things are not good in Iraq, you fool. And a little girl doesn't understand the political side of all this. It is way stupid to think she is thanking the troops for the war.

[mljordan0604]

You take one look at an Iraqi child waving at a US convoy and the smile on his face and the "Thank You" coming out of his mouth; and you will see all of the good things we are doing. For the women who are criticizing, how would you like it if you were to forced stay in the house all day, not work, and not socialize with anyone, and not have any rights what so ever? That is the way the Iraqi women were treated before the United States came in and changed their lives forever. I think those of you who are total critics need to spend just 1 day in Iraq to see just what you are complaining about.

[mljordan0604]

You say you support the troops, but you don't support the war. You say you support the troops, but you don't support the president. How can you support the troops and criticize the president at the same time? I would like to see each and every person who is criticizing this war and the president to spend just 1 day in Iraq and take a glimpse at the good deeds that we are doing over there. The media doesn't tell you about the new schools, hospitals, roads, freedoms, and perspectives that we have helped give the Iraqi people.

[mljordan0604]

How can you call yourself Americans? To be a "true" American, you must believe in and support what our country stands for. You must believe in and support our president and our military. Those of you who are criticizing both really don't know what it means to be an American. You just take all of your freedoms for granted and don't know what it's like to pay the price for those freedoms. My husband and I both served with the 1544th in Iraq. We watched all of our brothers and sisters die for what America stands for. We know the price that has to be paid for the freedoms that all of you are taking advantage of.

[karlimhof]

My sympathies to those who have lost so much. Honor goes to you and yours, but only disgrace to those who have misused the sacred trust of the american people - a trust which demand only 2 things: Truth and Honesty.

"A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a TYRANT, is unfit to be the Ruler of a FREE PEOPLE." Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1776

Congress! Awake! Impeach Bush & Cheney now.

[comfortmd1]

and follyforusa, you have no freaking clue what you are talking about. wwII was about stopping the international march of a terrible regime, not invading a small ocuntry that insulted the commander in chief's da-da. i am a veteran, and service flows in my family. the last two elections were tainted by voting irregularities, and a lot of voter repression. this war has continued to suit corporate greed and to line contractor pockets at the cost of servicemen's blood. the national guard has no business even being down there. go take an *** before posting again, cause it's getting deep in here

[comfortmd1]

rtaylor, Of course you support the war, your "hubby" is an oficer, and they have always received special treatment, both in pay and safety. say that to all the people with missing limbs, or who are in BODY BAGS. say that to all those whose deaths have been lied about by the bush administration. if you can't, or won't, i hope you can remember that you will answer to the Lord for your deception. your punishent is for none of us down here to decide.

[rtaylor551]

I'm not going to get into the debate here about the War (which I support 110%)
My husband had the honor of serving with the 1544th in Iraq -- he as a civilian convoy commander/truck driver, they as military escorts on the mail missions.
They are among the best and heroic group of young men and women we have had the priviledge of knowing.
God bless them all and their families.
Renee Taylor

[folly4usa]

It's very hard to comprehend the short-sightedness of half the people of this country. Especially the generation who either served in WWII or lived during that era. Nothing worthwhile is accomplished without sacrifice. Why didn't we pull out of WWII after we lost 3,000 soliders? Why didn't we stop after we lost 30,000 or 300,000 or 3,000,000 soliders (see http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties for numbers of cilivian and military casualties)? Because it had to be finished--we had to win for those who needed to be free. If the Iraqi people choose not to fight to keep their freedom, then that's on them. But, we have to leave them with the best foundation we can for them to build upon.
As for the basis upon which we entered the war, if President Bush is to be held accountable for the inaccuracies of the information he was given, then so our Congress as well as Prime Minister Tony Blair.
If one can accept Congress' excuse saying they were given wrong information, why doesn't that extended to President Bush and Prime Minister Blair?
Unfortunately, the Democrats, angry at loosing the presidential seat two elections in a row, not to mention loosing the congressional majorities during Clinton's "presidency", has turned against their country's own best long-term interest in favor of their own polical envy for power.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."