Nov. 28, 2007
One Family's Service And Sacrifice
Harry Smith: When War Brought Down His Son, A Father Fights Back By Enlisting To Help Others
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Lieutenant Commander Dr. Bill Krissoff and his wife Christine (CBS/The Early Show)
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Play CBS Video Video Father Enlists After Son Dies After his son was killed in Iraq, Dr. Bill Krissoff enlisted in the Navy Medical Corps Reserve to help save other soldiers. He and his wife, Christine, speak with Harry Smith.
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Video Sacrifice And Memories WCCO's Tom Aviles talks with the family of army specialist Jacob Vanderbosch, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq at the age of 21. The family remembers the son and brother they lost.
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Video Bush: Trend In Iraq Changing In an address to U.S. troops fresh from basic training, President Bush said the trends in Iraq are moving the right way. Jim Axelrod reports.
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Interactive American Heroes Profiles of U.S. soldiers who've died in Iraq, a look at the war's toll and pictures of mourning.
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Interactive Military 101 Basic training to learn all about America's fighting force.
There are some things most of us will never fully understand. Like the emotions that come when a Marine Corps officer arrives at your door to tell you your son or daughter has been killed in combat.
Bill Krissoff and his wife Christine got that horrendous news just about one year ago. Their son Nate, a Marine Lieutenant, was killed in Iraq by an improvised explosive device. Christine told me they just did the best they could do after that. One step, one day at a time. Their other son, Austin, is a Marine too. Probably enough service and sacrifice for one family.
But then Bill Krissoff, an orthopedic surgeon, began to think he, too, could serve. The problem is that Dr. Krissoff is 19 years past the age limit. When President Bush visited Reno, he met with the Krissoff’s and other family members of fallen soldiers. The president asked if there was anything he could do.
Dr. Krissoff said, well, get me in to the Navy Medical Corps Reserves. Well, he’s in now and hopes to be deployed soon to a field hospital in Iraq.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
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Add a Comment
- I wanted to offer my thanks to this Doctor, his wife and his sons for their sacrifice to their country.
The Doctor took what would me an immeasurable loss and turned in in to others'' bounty. His wife also deserves thanks for showing support for her husband and raising two sons whose strength of character resonates through their actions and their ability to help others, not only themselves.
And finally to the sons: God bless the one who lost his life in Iraq. Our prayers go out to you. And for the son who is presently serving: THANK YOU! You probably don''t hear that often, but it is *because* of your service that I am able to thank you for your service. Our prayers also go out to you.
This is an awesome family who should be an inspiration for other American families. - Reply to this comment
