A parent who lost a child, but not their perspective
Via Mudville Gazette, we hear from Robert Stokely, father of SGT Michael “Mike” James Stokely, KIA Operation Iraqi Freedom 16 Aug 05.
No pity for me is needed, for as a friend said to me, I am lucky to have a son who has brought such honor to his father and the entire family. My son was a man who had a heart that cared deeply for others, and they likewise cared for him. In all of this, so many stories of his simple kindness have been shared with us and touched us. My favorite is the one where he and his buddies had been on continuous duty for several days (their normal day was 22 hours long). He and one of his fellow soldiers had to pull guard duty after being on missions for that continuous period without any sleep. He told his buddy to take a nap and he would stand watch and then they would swap out. For the next six hours, he let his buddy sleep while he stood the whole watch.
We miss him so much. We hurt inside. But we burst with pride in our son and brother. His memory will not fade nor will our love for him. When Mike was just becoming a teenager, I tried to imagine what he would be one day. I often told people I wasn’t sure where life would take him, but I knew he would do something different and be very well known in his chosen field. I never dreamed he would become an American Hero who would serve his country so well.
I’ll not attempt to trump his words. Read the whole thing. Mr. Stokely, I thank you for your words and I thank your son for his sacrifice.
Comments
Fuck Cindy Sheehan.
THIS man is the true “Moral Authority”!
Mr. Stokely, God bless you, God bless your son. The majority of us understand the sacrafice he made we and do appriciate it, even though we take it for granted at times.
I’m Swedish but even i thank him ofc.
Its saddens me when EU/euro countries and UN let people be controlled by dictators,its ffs 2000,why let those disgusting bastards still own people and kill them as flies?
Wtf is wrong with UN and europe?
Btw saddam was busted with having illegal weapon by UN before even though he claimed he had none,then he got so angry cause being caught as a tyran with illegal biological weapon he made sure UN was never allowed in again untill bush threated with war that should have been a wake up call by UN,the man doesnt let us in after we found some of the weapons,and btw he had months to get rid of the weapons of mass destructions when bush waited,did Saddam have them? i dont know,but if he had he had the time to hide/get rid of it.
Anyway Saddam was a monster,thx god we got rid of him,now we only have a few dictators left…
WOW. Here we have a man who should be respected. His son was doing what he felt was right. I have to say thank you for restoring my faith in Americans. I will pray for him and his son.
Of course, the MM types want us to believe that this man is “really” a deluded fool, that he must realize that his son died for nothing. MM would also “explain” to us that this man’s son was stupid and evil for joining up in the first place.
But they “support the troops”.
Poor guy… shame he died in the name of a sham. He was an infintely better person than the charlatans and lowlife who sent him there. RIP.
Poor guy… shame he died in the name of a sham. He was an infintely better person than the charlatans and lowlife who sent him there. RIP.
I knew some asshat would come on here and spew thier bs.
STFU M-RES.
Mr. Stokely, your son will NOT be forgotten. He is a true hero.
Skeptic1972:
Of course, the MM types want us to believe that this man is “really” a deluded fool, that he must realize that his son died for nothing. MM would also “explain” to us that this man’s son was stupid and evil for joining up in the first place.
But they “support the troops”.
M-Res:
Poor guy… shame he died in the name of a sham. He was an infintely better person than the charlatans and lowlife who sent him there. RIP.
M-RES just made your point, Skeptic.
Poor guy… shame he died in the name of a sham. He was an infintely better person than the charlatans and lowlife who sent him there. RIP.
M-Res, so in short, you’re saying he died for absolutely nothing, and that his service and sacrifice was completely meaningless.
Hrmm… how do you feel knowing that if you were to say this to his father, he would kick the living shit out of you?
Oh.. in case you missed the point (as it happens so often with libs)… this makes you a complete scumbag.
Clear enough for you?
If the soldier believed in what he was fighting for (and if his family belived in him… and if we all believe in his family’s support of him), are you saying that the soldier was wrong; are you trying to disgrace the family of a fallen hero who supported their son’s actions?
If the soldier believed in what he was fighting for (and if his family belived in him… and if we all believe in his family’s support of him), are you saying that the soldier was wrong; are you trying to disgrace the family of a fallen hero who supported their son’s actions?
Let me add another option to this, too…
...OR… do you believe that this soldier, from his vantage point in Iraq, was just an ignorant sap who somehow knew less about why he was there and what he was doing than you do, sitting in your desk chair in a basement somewhere, countless thousands of miles from Bagdhad?
No matter what, it has to be one of these options.
So which is it?
It’s kinda interesting that the “people” like M-res can’t understand how damn life changing all this is to the troops. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think that the re-upping by military personnel is setting records and the branches of the military are now back to meeting their recruitment goals for the last several months. It is a shame that people like Jesse Jackson and Charles Wrangle have gotten the blacks to back off enlisting by lying about the death rate for minorities over in Iraq. The Military in these times offer these folks an education,money and opportunities they would never see where they came from. Anyway most if not all these guys who have served over there have never been more challenged or excited by any assignment in their lives to date. They realize they are part of history and oft times in a life and death situation rebuilding a country right befor their eyes. Does it get more thrilling or meaningful than that. They have apeople,for the most part, approaching them with tears in their eyes thanking them for saving their country. How could anything these guys do back in the US compare? They are experiencing some of the biggest challenges that can face individuals and are living up to them superbly.
It is exactly like their ad campaign when a guy comes back to visit his buddies in his uniform and they ask him what he’s doing in the Army and he says,"I,m working with computers.” and their response is,” you could’ve done that here.” The his mind goes to the thrill of working under unbeleivable pressure with his comrades and he looks back and says,"not really.” That says it all. Other commercials show guys returning to civilian life and mentally comparing the challenges talked about by their civilian bosses and colleagues. No compariosn. A clever butt accurate set of ads. The MMs and his lackey type minions cannot comprehend that type of dedication and honor. Nuff’ said.
Mr. Stokely,
Your son may have died young but man did he live well. God bless him and it is almost satisfaction and punishment enough knowing these libtards will never know those kinds of thrills or achievements during there long, whining miserable,unhappy lives.
Last thing I’m going to add is all of the above being said and true who gives a flying fuck what M-Res says WE are the majority and that has been proven with the vote. All the rigged polls in the world won’t change that.
true american hero
every time i read another one of these stories of someone more or less my age(typically just slightly more) being willing to give their lives for the sake of others, i can’t help but feel guilty that i’m not and can’t serve, myself.
This might be off-topic, but I found this quote by Dennis Miller from an appearance he made on the tonight Show back in 2003 and I just HAD to share it:
“He’s going to wake up every day for the rest of his life, and he’s going to tell us how he hates everything about this country except his right to hate it. And then we say that we love it and he’s going to tell us what naive sheep we are and that he’s the true patriot because he hates it and he sees all the problems in it. Yeah, right, Mike. You know something, if my yawn got any bigger they’d have to assign it a hurricane name, okay? Michael Moore simultaneously represents everything I detest in a human being and everything I feel obligated to defend in an American. Quite simply, it is that stupid moron’s right to be that utterly, completely wrong.”
and no matter how much money he has he will still be miserable.I guarantee it.He does not understand the meaning of the term fulfillment.
M-RES..... Hello?!?! Hmmm...nothing but crickets!
I also doubt we will see Canuck, Eh? here either.
Oh yngcelt, my wife and I just had our first baby last Thursday. 10 lb girl. Yes, I said 10 lbs., 21 in.
One last thought for you libtards to get all muffed about.
MERRY CHRISTMAS Moorewatchers.
Go ahead and send the ACLU, I dare ya. :)
Sorry for th OT JimK.
Thank god for a man that recognizes that his son died for a just cause. Many friends of mine are in Iraq, and come home wondering what the Libtard BS is all about. They believe in what they are doing. Lets continue to honor men like this, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I keep seeing this qoute on a lot of people’s signatures here and elsewhere and it is so true:
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready
to do violence on their behalf. - George Orwell
I can only imagine, or have nightmares of what would happen if the Libs got their way......
Oh, and Tboy, gotta join you on that one:
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! (Happy Holidays my A**)
(Happy Holidays my A**)
Why the hate for the phrase “Happy Holidays”? I mean, when people do it just to replace the phrase “Merry Christmas”, when they’d otherwise use “Merry Christmas” but are trying to be more politically correct, it’s kind of lame, but the phrase itself can just be used to indicate that more than one holiday does go on during this season.
Even fake ones! *cough*Kwanza*cough*
More to the point… just say Merry Christmas, dude. Adding on something snippish after it just ruins the sentiment!
I would take happy holiday as offending.
Even though im not christian allthough my mom is i think…
I dont hear people say happy holiday on other holidays to me,now do i?
I would have no problem with wishing anyone happy hanukka or wtf its named :P
The whole argument that conservatives are offended by the term “Happy Holidays” is really bullshit to start with.
It’s a red herring subject started by the left to distract from the real issue;
Our offense at them censoring Christmas.
Nobody is offended by someone wishing someone else “Happy Holiday”. At least nobody I’ve ever heard of.
We are simply pissed off at moonbats on the left forcing the use of the term by banning the phrase “Merry Christmas”.
Please… let’s not let the left frame this debate with nonsense, too.
You are right artmonkey,
I really don’t have a problem with “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greeting” at all. I mainly made my statement earlier just because it is the left(note: not everyone on the left) that is making the big stink over Christmas. You know “Holiday Trees”, and trying to get stores not to say “Merry Christmas”. What a bunch of crap.
Anyways sorry for turning the thread OT JimK.
Mr. Stokely, thank you again. You and your family will be in our prayers.
Boy it sure would be nice if the media reported on parents like this instead of constantly spotlighting Sheehan and her cohorts!
I also doubt we will see Canuck, Eh? here either.
I’m flattered that you mention me TBoy. Though I’m kinda damned if I do, damned if I don’t with these types of threads really.
This young man sounds like a stand up gentleman and his family should be extremely proud. I read the whole piece from the father and it was very touching. It must be awful to bury a child.
I disagree with this war. I have disagreed with it since March 20, 2003 (and the days leading up to that date.) Every significant reason that we were told it was necessary has subsequently been proven to be false. I have no ill-will towards the brave men and women (American and otherwise) that are currently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their sacrifice is remarkable. I agree, and continue to agree, with the military action in Afghanistan, of which my country’s military has played an important role.
Is that clear enough for you?
And indeed, Merry Christmas.
I have disagreed with it since March 20, 2003
curious, does that mean you agreed with the war when it was declared?
Beyond that im glad that you are one to see the difference between the individual and the war that you are against. however, i do think this statement you made:
Every significant reason that we were told it was necessary has subsequently been proven to be false
is grossly wrong. But at least we share the same compassion for the fallen soldiers.
Just answer me on this particular point, it surpises me, for real, not just to be rethorical:
Why whould America want to give up such people (obviously people you’d like to see more off) to get rid of a dictator in a hellhole like Irak (kindda far away...) ????
Seriously, I can watch horrible stuff on the news and feel really sorry for the people and even make a large donation.... but I certainly will not get myself (or my sons) killed for them…
What the fuck ! I don’t even KNOW them !
The suffering of the Iraqi people WAS great, ok, so what ? were doest it says that has to be solved by american boys ??
The WMD were bullshit (bad intelligence or lies same result).
So what’s left to justify Mike Stokely (a fine man you’d like to have living on your block) death ??
A great cause.... sure it is a great cause. I don’t deny it.
Still, its shit, that man should be alive, fuck the cause !
Happy Christmas & Holydays & Hanukka or whaterver you want to be happy about ¨TO EVERYONE
Swissboy speaks as someone who believes in nothing and truly cares for nothing.
just my two cents, but it seems out of line to call people out by name to say something on this. As far as those that disagree with the war on all counts, if they weren’t called out, i see three things happening.
First, they don’t post. Silence can be deafening.
Second, they post, and just acknowledge that this is a great person being talked about that chose to serve. Common ground is found. Good.
Third, they post and try to argue all this stuff about hwo the death was for no reason or something like that, and it becomes very clear that they’re trying to politicise a death or that they don’t actually respect the soldiers. And again, that says a lot.
By trying to call out people, you’re just giving them a chance to turn this into a debate about the war, and leading in to all sorts of charges, as it has, instead of focusing it on one soldier who sacrificed everything for things he believed in. IMO, that should be the main thing here.
A great cause.... sure it is a great cause. I don’t deny it.
Still, its shit, that man should be alive, fuck the cause !
What a truly amazing paradoxical and revealing statement. Does it really mean what it says--that you, no matter what the cause wouldn’t die for it? If so, how sad that you will never know the thrill of believing in things worth dying for.Do you think we live forever? Or is it you are so terrified of death?(sigh)
Why whould America want to give up such people (obviously people you’d like to see more off) to get rid of a dictator in a hellhole like Irak (kindda far away...) ????
Seriously, I can watch horrible stuff on the news and feel really sorry for the people and even make a large donation.... but I certainly will not get myself (or my sons) killed for them…
All I can say is, I’m glad there’s plenty of people who disagree with you.
iggy21:
curious, does that mean you agreed with the war when it was declared?
March 20, 2003 was the first day of the invasion. You neglected to quote the: “and the days leading up to that date” from my post. To clarify, the moment the focus was shifted away from Afghanistan, I was in disagreement.
is grossly wrong.
Fair enough. But, as suggested in subsequent posts, this shouldn’t be debated on this thread and I completely agree. I was called out by TBoy and responded.
But at least we share the same compassion for the fallen soldiers.
We do. If only there was some way to make the posters on this site understand that…
I’ve already said what I was going to say on this topic. I’m just stopping by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and/or a nice holiday.
And congratulations, Tboy.
Lowbacca:
…Third, they post and try to argue all this stuff about hwo the death was for no reason or something like that, and it becomes very clear that they’re trying to politicise a death or that they don’t actually respect the soldiers. And again, that says a lot.
Far be it from someone on the other side of the debate to politicize a death…
By trying to call out people, you’re just giving them a chance to turn this into a debate about the war, and leading in to all sorts of charges, as it has, instead of focusing it on one soldier who sacrificed everything for things he believed in. IMO, that should be the main thing here.
I can only tell you my motivation for posting what I did: to make clear, specifically to TBoy, the difference between my feelings towards the war and the feelings I have towards the soldiers who are now fighting it.
All the best to everyone. And yes, from this “Libtard” to you, congratulations TBoy. Those are some impressive stats for a newborn…
Swissboy speaks as someone who believes in nothing and truly cares for nothing.
I believe in saving my own ass and I care very much for it.
that you, no matter what the cause wouldn’t die for it?
Dead on !
If so, how sad that you will never know the thrill of believing in things worth dying for.Do you think we live forever? Or is it you are so terrified of death?(sigh)
I know the thrill of movies,women,food,traveling the world,art and Lint chocolate. thats plenty enought for me… (and a little political debate now and then ;)
I AM absolutly terrified of death, i don’t believe in any god. Death to me is the prospect or rotting underground eaten by worms after horrible suffering.
Juge me if you feel you would endure that to save the iraqi people, but juge me from my point of view please. Agnostic.
I respect people like Mike Stokely even more than the average person does - they are willing to face death, which is so terrifying to me.
Nobody answerd me though… why as a nation would you want to give up such people for Iraq’s sake ???
Swissboy, self-preservation is not a belief. It is a base instinct that is possessed by pretty much every creeping, crawling thing that could possibly lay claim to the title “living organism”.
You have the moral convictions of an amoeba. Good job.
swissboy, are you an American? If so, then you should consider the fact that if it weren’t for a whole bunch of frenchies coming here to help us fight the British, we would be the largest british colony in the world. The French came here and fought alongside us and beld and died helping us.
Your statements clarify your cowardice and complete lack of caring for anyone but yourself. I pray your sons have other male role models to learn from.
i don’t believe in any god
enough said…
Agnostic.
So what does this have to do with any thing? You doubt that there is a God so you probably don’t believe in any afterlife.
I know a few agnostics and even a few atheists and yet they are brave enough to have causes that they believe in so deeply that they would be willing to give their life for it. It must be frightening for them because death would be final but they still feel that way.
swissboy, are you an American
Nope, I’m actually Italian and I lived most of my life in Lausanne, Switzerland. A little town near lausanne precisely. I travel a lot to the US for business. It doesn’t make your argument less valid though. I agree with you about the french bit.
However, the french did it for prescise reasons, to weaken the English their “arch-enemy” in a time at which wars were freaquent between the two countries. Iraq was not in such a position.
Your statements clarify your cowardice and complete lack of caring for anyone but yourself. I pray your sons have other male role models to learn from.
Hum… thats painful to hear…
I’ll try to answer you anyway. I care about keeping the likes of Mike Stokely ALIVE. Great people are useless when they are DEAD. To Die for a cause is just sad, it is to live for a cause that’s heroic.
Sometimes their is no other way. This was not one of this times.
You often acusse liberals to avoid the debate, or hit and run, but appart for insults no one deigned to answer me after I asked my question two times.
I hope you have a good answer, anyone who supports the war owes to MR. Stokely to have a darn good answer.
Swissboy, self-preservation is not a belief. It is a base instinct that is possessed by pretty much every creeping, crawling thing that could possibly lay claim to the title “living organism”.
You have the moral convictions of an amoeba. Good job.
Read J. Heller(if you are interested). Catch-22. He explains it much better than me
Moral convictions are cheap, anyone can have them, change them, abandon them, find them again and so on. People once had the moral conviction that it was good to burn wiches, or that black men had no souls, that the jews had to be exterminated or a thousand other nonsenses.
They are like bad smells, they hang around for a while then disolve into thin air.
Can you imagin the moral convictions of the world of tomorrow when you see how much they have changed over the last century only ?
And by the way Rann, only compley organisms have self-preservation or insticts. Uni-cellular don’t.
By the way, if everyone though like me they would be no wars at all…
People without convivtions aren0t willing to put their asses on the line and never feel strongly enough about anything to kill someone.
swissboy.... someone who believes that they are ao sophisticated that they can transend moral thought and common attitude toward life and not worry about the emotions that normality brings… like happines and love (and of course hate)
And yet, despite moral convictions being so cheap, you still don’t seem to have shelled out for a single one.
Swissboy, you cloak cowardice and lack of conviction in a thin layer of supposed virtue and claim to be proud about it. But character is what you are in the dark, after all. And those that lack it completely are, in the dark, exactly what they mean in the light… nothing.
You are nothing. When you are gone, you will have meant nothing. If lying rotting in the ground terrifies you, what should truly have you wetting your pants is that not only will you lay rotting in the ground, but no one will care that you do. A man who has no convictions is a man who leaves no impression, and thus no memory. Michael Stokely is dead, but he will live on not only in the words and memories of his family, but those who were touched by his belief, his convictions, and his nobility. When you are dead, you will be not only gone, but forgotten.
And that is truly the most appropriate thing I can imagine for you.
You are nothing. When you are gone, you will have meant nothing.
To whom ?
I mean something to the people that love me, to my family, to my dog I mean food, to my partners I mean moneymaker, to my clients I mean reliability and the list is long.
The dead truly mean nothing to most and nothing but pain and, sometimes, pride to their family. It is a less enviable position in my regard.
I can make my family proud without having to die for it.
A man who has no convictions is a man who leaves no impression, and thus no memory.
I don’t care much for my name in history books, I love the History chanel sure, I learn about great (dead) war heros while scrunching pop-corn, once again I believe I have the most enviable part of the deal.
Michael Stokely is dead, but he will live on not only in the words and memories of his family, but those who were touched by his belief, his convictions, and his nobility.
Common get real for a second… I swear to you that in the sad shity world we live in another michael will we remebered longer and by more people. Thats real.
When you are dead, you will be not only gone, but forgotten.
What the fuck do I care ? If i’m dead they can have my organs, hack me up, feed me to the pigs and then forget about me. It is no longer my concern.
My concern is with livin as long as possible.
a thin layer of supposed virtue
When did I claim to posses any virtue ? I never did in my life !
Virtue is an illusion, what is virtue from a certain point of view is sin from another.
All this endless debate when I only wanted a simple answer…
Evade, evade.
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The man loved his son, lost his son and now grieves and remembers his son in a dignified way. What else can be said?