POSTED: 4:14 p.m. EST March 21, 2003 UPDATED: 11:48 p.m. EST March 21, 2003
BALTIMORE -- One of the first American casualties in the war against Iraq is a Baltimore man, and his family shared their feelings about the war Friday. WBAL-TV 11 NEWS first broke the news Friday afternoon that a Baltimore man is among a group of Marines killed in a helicopter crash inside Kuwait that happened late Thursday night. He is identified as Marine Staff Sgt. Kendall Waters-Bey, 29, (pictured, right), of northeast Baltimore, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reported. He is based out of Camp Pendleton in California and leaves behind four younger sisters and a 10-year-old son who lives in Baltimore.
"It's sad that this war is going on and that we have to lose so many people over nothing. I can't bring my brother back, but I really miss him," one of the soldier's sisters said. WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reporter Noel Tucker spoke with the Marine's father who lives in northeast Baltimore where friends and neighbors were seen sobbing in the streets, sharing their grief with the family. The family spoke with WBAL-TV 11 NEWS Friday afternoon and shared their feelings against the war. As he held a picture of his son, Waters-Bey's father, Michael, (pictured, left), said: "I want President Bush to get a good look at this, really good look here. This is the only son I had, only son." He then walked away in tears, with his family behind him. Kenneth, the Marine's only son, was with the family, (pictured, below right). A military spokesperson visited the family Friday morning to confirm that Waters-Bey had died in the crash. But the family had a feeling since Thursday night that he had died in the helicopter, Tucker reported. Waters-Bey's wife saw television footage of the helicopter crash and recognized the identification numbers. The family came to the conclusion that their son, brother and husband was on helicopter. And, before he left, Waters-Bey told his mother that he didn't think he would be coming home after his deployment, Tucker reported. Waters-Bey moved to California with his wife but has been in constant contact with his son and the boy's mother, Tucker reported. Waters-Bey, who played football at Northern High School in Baltimore, was last seen by his son, (pictured, right), a couple of months ago. According to the family, Waters-Bey didn't talk much about the war, but he said it was just something he had to do.
"My brother was the type of person that was loving, caring, and outgoing ... [he was a] joking type of guy, having you laugh ... It's a loss for us," Shernell Waters-Bey, the soldier's sister, said. Baltimore City police officers visited the family to convey the condolences of Mayor Martin O'Malley to the family. The mayor ordered all city flags to be flown at half-staff late Friday evening, Tucker reported. And Gov. Bob Ehrlich issued a statement in response, saying that Waters-Bey's death was "a heroic effort to make the world a safer place." At around 6 p.m., the Marines spoke about the deaths of those who perished in the helicopter crash. "To all those who have lost someone in this conflict, our hearts are with you. We are grateful to your sacrifice and the sacrifice your loved ones have made," Camp Pendleton Maj. Curtis Hill said. The three other Marines who died in the CH-46E helicopter crash were identified as Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine, Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill., and Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston, Texas.
