Just the most devasting news possible this afternoon. Grant Fraser, the son of a good friend, was one of the 17 marines killed by a huge car bomb yesterday in Iraq. When news reports of the bombing started coming in, I had a bad feeling. I knew Grant was serving in Haditha. But today, since I hadn't heard anything, I thought maybe he was o.k. But then the e-mail arrived my in box at 4:00 PM this afternoon and I could tell from the subject line it was very bad news. I was at work and happened to be on the phone with one of my co-workers, Matt who is also a former Marine. I saw the e-mail come in, I read it while I was still on the phone and then I started crying. I managed to finish the conversation with Matt and then I just sat in my chair. But within two minutes, who should appear in my doorway but Matt. He came in. He sat down. And then we just started to talk. He was absolutely wonderful. His visit was such a generous and brave gesture.
So, I've known Grant since he was a little kid - he was gangly boy with the biggest ears you've ever seen. He was a bright shining light - smart, funny, an athlete, a pianist, an actor, you name it. And as his Mom said in this public statement, Grant was so very proud to be a Marine.
Grant is the first Anchorage boy to be killed in the war.
9:38:41 PM 
|
|
