BAGHDAD, Aug. 23, 2007
Family Loses Second Son In Iraq
Third Son In Iraq Will Return To California For The Funeral
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Family's Second Loss In Iraq
A California family has lost a second son to the Iraq war in the helicopter crash that killed 14 soldiers. Their third son must decide whether to stay in Iraq or come home. Kimberly Dozier reports.
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Spc. Nathan Hubbard, 21, was among 14 killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in northern Iraq. (CBS)
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Spc. Nathan Hubbard, 21, right, was among 14 killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in northern Iraq in August of 2007. He is pictured here with his brother Jason Hubbard. (CBS)
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The family of Spc. Nathan Hubbard, 21, was taking his death on Wednesday "very, very hard," said Clovis police spokeswoman Janet Stoll-Lee, who spoke on behalf of the Hubbards. The soldier's father, Jeff Hubbard, is a retired 30-year veteran of the police department.
Hubbard’s UH-60 helicopter went down during a nighttime mission in the Tamim province that surrounds Kirkuk, an oil-rich city 180 miles north of Baghdad, said Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly, a military spokesman in northern Iraq.
He said facts gathered indicated it was almost certainly due to a mechanical problem and not hostile fire, although the final cause remained under investigation. The military did not immediately release the soldiers' identities pending notification of relatives.
Nathan Hubbard was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, where officials said 10 of the soldiers killed in the crash were based.
The Hubbards lost Nathan's older brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard, to a roadside bomb in downtown Ramadi in 2004.
CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier reports that after Jared died, Nathan, along with his younger brother Jason, decided to fight back. They joined the Army, completing basic training at Fort Benning, and together, deployed to Iraq.
"These were aggressively committed young men, to their friends, their family, whatever sports activity or event that they were participating in," says local clergy member Rev. Tim Rolen of New Hope Community Church.
Their mother, Peggy, told the Fresno Bee in a 2005 interview that she believed Jason joined in part to protect Nathan after not being there to help Jared.
The brothers said at the time that they didn't worry about dying in the war.
"People are going to be hurt, and people are going to be killed," Nathan Hubbard told the Bee. "That is a reality you have to accept, but not dwell on."
Jason has left his unit in Iraq, to join his family in California at this difficult time, reports Dozier.
Army officials tell CBS News that in a case like this, no branch of the U.S. military will force family members to fight on.
So now, when the funeral is over, Jason will have to face the choice of how to best honor his brothers' sacrifice and his family's loss: go back to Iraq or stay home.
Keith Butterfield, a family friend, said the Hubbards were worried for their sons but proud because they knew they were committed to going on behalf of their fallen brother.
"There is nothing anyone can say to make it better, but it's good to know that there are other families that can help you cope," said Butterfield, who became close to the Hubbards after his own son died in Iraq last year. "It's bringing up the feelings of everyone else's loss, but we will be there for them."
The tragedy has echoes of another sorrow, from World War II - the combat deaths of the five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa, killed when the Navy ship on which they served was sunk in November 1942.
Their story was told in the 1944 movie "The Sullivans" and was an inspiration for the fictional tale that unfolds in the 1998 film "Saving Private Ryan."
Two destroyers were named The Sullivans in memory of the five brothers. The most recent ship, commissioned in 1997 as part of the Atlantic fleet, has the motto: "We stick together."
In other developments:
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 109 CommentsAndy
...these brothers died with honor.
God bless them all.
These unknown Americans were men who did not wear masks in combat, but looked their enemy straight in the eye and would not be turned.
They did not have grand titles, and will not lie in state in any lauded building, other than ,perhaps, their home-town church.
They were the finest we had to offer--and offered up all they had to give.
WE should be there for the family they left.
"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted"
We also lost a wonderful friend in that crash, Josh Flynn from North Carolina. He was a loving son, father and friend. He too will be missed, as well as all the other soldiers.
Those commericals on tv for the war make me sick. It''s unbelieveable that they are going to try to make this war palatable (as if they could!) through a PR effort.
The only sad thing is that they died for whiners like you all. You don''t deserve to be pissed on if you''re on fire!
Though inevitible, death is tragic under any circumstances but its ratio remains: 1 per person.
What''s sad about this war is unlike most of the other wars we have faught, America is not at war. The American MILITARY is at war. America is at the MALL.
Pray tell, when are you "Bush haters" going to get a life?
Nathan, Jared, Jason, and the rest of the Hubbard I salute you with the utmost honor and respect.
That''s why the complete title of this war is:
THE PHONY BUSH WAR
There is no paradox in me sympathising deeply with this family today and my deep hatred of the evil, sick minds of the B A S T A R D S who have committed the lives of over three thousand young men and women to the ground AND for what! The Flowers of our nation have mown down by their leader, a disgrace upon this Nation.
Duty ? Service ? Sacrifice ? B U L L S H I T
How arrogant. Remember that little commandment from "God"? Thou shall not kill? Was there a part of that I missed? Thou shall not kill, unless you really want too, that is.
Posted by risr at 09:08 AM : Aug 23, 2007
Wow, when did Rosie O''Donnell get back in town?
These folks are not justifying this war by saying "God Bless our Troops." We p#$$ed all over our soldiers in Vietnam, turned our back on them when they came home. People, regardless of whether they think this war is just or not, do not want to make that same mistake again. Just like cops, firefighters, teachers, nurses back home, they are on the front lines to try to improve this country. Say what you want about Bush (as everybody seems to), but you don''t knock the people who are actually in harm''s way.
SInce the first 6 months of the invasion passed our soldiers have been complaining about lack of necessary supplies, machine and engine parts and things like tires for their jets, helicopters, armoured vehicles and trucks. They don''t have enough to properly maintain everything and are pulling bits and pieces out of other ones to patch up another. THis is what happens with poor maintainance - they start falling out of the skies, the vehicles stop on the roads leaving the troops stranded and in danger.
Bush keeps trying to get America to re-approve his invasion - but he never made sure that the troops had what they need - Rumfeld even said they had to go with what (little) they had. This is criminal what they''ve done to our troops.
Our Soldiers are doing what they are ordered to do. I do not support this war or bush. I do support our Soldiers and will ask God to Bless them and Protect them. If you have a problem with that oh well, deal with it.
God Bless Our Soldiers! They are the Very BEST!
My condolences to this family.
Posted by irishbitch11 at 09:47 AM : Aug 23, 2007
My apologies. I just cannot stand when people invoke God''s name when defending the reasons to kill other people. It is pure blasphemy. Religion and politics cannot be in the same bed together. It is an anfront to God, whether it is in Iran, Darfur, or Texas.
God is not a republican or democrat. God is not American, Israeli, Iranian or Norweigen. (Well, maybe a little Norwegian..)
As for so-called Bush haters - hon - when Bush is back in his luxury condo in Houston sneaking his tequila and lines of cocaine and not trying to destroy the country we''ll be quite satisfied. Till then he''s open to any and all criticism and he''s earned every word of it.
During WWI before they glorified war in this country, anyone that gave their sons to the Army was looked down upon. We need to get back to that.
The poorest of Americans do the dirty deeds for the oilmen and bankers that oppress the poor. Unflipping believable how stupid people in this country can be!
The oilmen and bankers would be powerless without them.
Though inevitible, death is tragic under any circumstances but its ratio remains: 1 per person.
What''''s sad about this war is unlike most of the other wars we have faught, America is not at war. The American MILITARY is at war. America is at the MALL.
Pray tell, when are you "Bush haters" going to get a life?
Posted by dovestar at 09:29 AM : Aug 23, 2007
When Bush is gone, you d i p s h i t !
Bush lied and our Brave Soldiers are dying because of it.
Mr. Bush is now trying to sell the theory to the American people that we shouldn''t be like our parents - we should not force Congress to withhold funds and thereby force Bush to withdraw out troops - he''s telling us our parents (and grandparents) weren''t strong enough - and weren''t smart enough to see that we should have stayed in Vietnam and that we must believe in him on Iraq.
If Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowtiz or Perlman had felt that strongly about Vietnam they''d have fought there - each of them had many chances to be sent to Vietnam. They didn''t. If their own families and friends believed in Iraq we''d see all the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove families sending their kiddies and grandkiddies off to Iraq.
They aren''t - and neither should we. If war is good enough for other Americans to fight in then it is good enough for the Bush girls and Karl Rove''s son to fight in.
Bush supporters think that an all-volunteer armed forces deserves what happens to them - cause they are voluntary.
The reason given for attacking Iraq was to stop Saddam''s nuclear and biological weapons manufactoring. Despite the fact that outside experts said there was no evidence of either weapon being developed, Bush was determined to attack anyway.
So, off to Iraq US soldiers go. Within 1 month it was clear to US inspectors that there were no such weapons, just as the UN had said.
This is a war of unjustified aggression and Bush and everyone of his staff that supported it should be tried as war criminals!!
I hope everyone of the dead soldiers and everyone of the dead civilians haunt their dreams while they is alive and they are condemned by their God to be tortured by all the dead of Iraq FOREVER.
At least irishbitch11 understands the meaning of civility even if she disagrees with others. May she be an example to everyone on these blogs, both sides and the middle. As a wise man once said, "it is better to let everyone think you are stupid and not open your mouth and prove it."
THEY are what this article is about!
THEY are what this article is about!
You''re right, but this is just SOP for these same people trying to push their agendas irregardless of what the subject of the article is.
Same people, same posts, doesn''t matter what the subject is. I think they just cut and paste the same thing to numerous comment sections. Like it''s their job or something.
I offer my condolences to the families of all 14 servicemen that where killed in this Blackhawk crash. It''s a sad day for Americans.
What a sacrifice they have made for this country. I don''t agree with the war but I commend the sacrifice our troops have made to protect us.
But now today when we should all know better we have a governmen that is badly mistreating our returning vets - with poor to no medical coverage, care - they can wait up tp 6 months for an MRI and over a year for therapy. THey reservists have been cut off TriCare -TriCare''s benefits have been limited, there aren''t enough staff to handle the medical claims and disability claims - some have had to hire lawyers to help them through the myriad of paperwork - and the disability payments are unhandled unequally, unfair and slow.
We see no volunteer organizations going in and trying to help the tens of thousands of soldiers wounded and in need of handicapped cars, ramps, bathrooms, etc. No help for the reservists families who are on their 4th or 5th Tour of Iraq.
So please - let''s cut the garbage like Rosie O''Donnell stuff out - it''s silly, juvenile, meaningless ... it''s not like Anne Coulter is out there organizing rides for vets to the hospital either -- sheesh - not even Laura Bush is doing anything or their daughters or Cheney''s daughters.....
drinuk I don''t think it is a good idea to use two (or more?) nom de guere''s (mrhoppy) just to see your trash printed more than once. After all it''s interesting the meaning of nom de guerre, "Pseudonyms are adopted by resistance fighters, terrorists and guerrillas often to make enquiries more difficult, to create and maintain an aura of mystery, and to protect their families from reprisal, although other reasons often may exist." wikipedia
When helicopters start falling out of the skies it''s for one of two reasons - they were shot down or not properly maintained.
Now our troops have been complaining about lack of required parts and supplies for years now in Iraq. Perhaps if they had what they needed they''d be able to properly maintain the helicopter it most likely would not have fallen out of the sky and killed 14 troops.
Is that a political crack? no - its a complaint about a useless, incompetent utterly uncaring presidential administration who has not made sure they troops they sent to Iraq have what they need.
Democrats, Republicans & Liberals, stop being nice and end this war. Impeach Bush and Cheney.
I don''t understand how impeachment proceeding scan be brought for a personal marital matter but not for crimes against America (Lies, Torture, loss of international support, Filling the pockets of the rich at the expense of the poor).
Enough is enough!!
Posted by nyckate at 10:44 AM : Aug 23, 2007
nyckate
Apparently you don''t live near a military base because I DO see all kinds of volunteers. Do you volunteer? Or are you just going by what you see in the media?
Your assessment of things just as bad now as then is also in error. There are hundreds of groups supporting the military compared to Vietnam times. You are right that there are not enough, but that is why we fought for your right to say and not do anything.
As for the continual tirade of the current administration not doing enough I cannot agree more. But remember deary that there are two parties in Congress that share the blame for what is going on perhaps more than anyone else. After all that''s why they are called ''representatives'' of the people. Speaking of juvenile, the mud on your hands isn''t very clean.
Posted by nyckate at 10:44 AM : Aug 23, 2007
Believe me, I don''t dispute any part of that. The government has been *** our soldiers on both sides: up on the front lines through lack of communication and proper equipment, then through proper care for our wounded GI''s. Sadly, that hasn''t changed. If I blame the administration for anything on this war, it''s that. Whether Bush lied or was given bad information from the CIA (a very easy organization to blame, everybody can agree upon that), we''ll never know.
My focus was more on the people who lay the blame of this at the feet of our service men and women. Hence the Rosie comment, who did just that. Ann Coulter and Al Franken can both go to hell, for all I care. As for getting organizations to assist our troops, there''s not enough viable information out there to tell us how to do that. (buying calling cards for them aside)
Anyway, enough of me on the soapbox. Like someone said, this should be about the loss of 2 soldiers (and I''ll add the 14 who died in the Blackhawk helicopter crash) and expressing our condolences rather than a political forum.
The first year of the war I had to search all over to find a group organizing care packages - not even the base chaplains here in NY knew of one.
So please -- of course the towns near the bases help those near the base. It''s the tens of thousands who don''t live near the base or who will never be on a base again because they have lost their limbs who need help.
Sheesh.
Posted by nyckate at 10:49 AM : Aug 23, 2007
nyckate,
When did I say anything about a political crack? I try to stay out of the political debates here. I doubt any of it accomplishes anything on a news article comment section.
I would agree with your assessment on why helicopters crash. But I''ll reserve judgment until the crash investigation is complete. Helicopters crash for all kinds of reasons, I doubt the Army knowingly keeps improperly maintained helicopters o the flight schedule. Especially troop carrying flights.
Most of the information in the reports was 12 years old.
Now you may wish to believe that Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowtiz and Perlman didn''t recognize reports they had last seen when they previously worked in teh white house - I don''t. Or maybe all of them are seriously ill with altzheimers adn that''s why they didn''t recognize the same material?? Hmmmm - maybe we can institutionalize the entire Bush Administration on grounds of lack of mental capacity!!
The facts have never matter much to Bush or his supporters - I guess we shouldn''t expect you to change in that regards.
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