From Gilda to Her Students: Memorial Day: Let Us Remember

Gilda sent me this today. Her reflection on the 2nd Anniversary of her son's death.

May 5, 2008

Good morning.

Most of you were here 2 years ago. Some of you were my students and may know something about an event in my life which unavoidably defines it. This week is the anniversary of that moment, and although it has taken me two years to stand here and talk about it, I believe it is as much a good thing for you to hear it, as it is for me to stand here and tell it to you. On May 1, 2006 at about 9:30 in the evening in Iraq (1:30pm here), a convoy of Reconnaissance Marines had left Camp Fallujah in the Al Anbar Province. This convoy of 5 humvees was driving down a road along the Euphrates river using night vision goggles to avoid IEDs on their way to an appointed post.

Suddenly, an IED causing a tremendous fireball upended the 4^th humvee in the convoy, lighting up the night sky. Even though 3 humvees had gone over the same spot the 4^th one would be the one hit by this improvised explosive device. 21 year old Lcpl Robert Moscillo, died instantly. The remaining 4 humvees stopped immediately and the Marines formed a protective cordon around the burning vehicle. The gunner, who had been ejected, and had burns on his arms, ran back to help put out the fires on the 3 remaining teammates. One of those, the team leader, was my son Sgt Alex Carbonaro. They all were seriously burned. A helicopter medevaced Alex and his teammates Corporal Cory Palmer, and Corporal Brad Fulkes to Bagdad.

On May 2 at 10:00am here at school, Rev. Humphrey appeared at the door of the Form B class where I stood teaching. I immediately knew. We would be one of the few families in this country directly affected by this war. In the days that followed, my husband, Alex’s bride, his mother-in-law and I joined Alex in Landstuhl, the US military hospital in Germany. Alex was in an induced coma, we were at his side, we touched him and spoke to him hoping that he could hear us.

Alex was not to survive these tremendous injuries. He put up a great fight for survival, but on May 10, he took his last breath. He died in our arms at 10 in the morning.

A few days earlier, on May 4, 20 year old Stephen Bixler, a corporal who had been sent to investigate this very same incident on a foot patrol was also killed by an IED.

21 year old Cory Palmer would die May 6 on a transport plane enroute to BAMC, the San Antonio burn center.

23 year old Navy Petty Officer Lee Hamilton Deal, one of the medics from Alex’s platoon, would die on May 17 back in Iraq.

23 year old Corporal Brad Fulkes, who was on the transport with Cory Palmer would die on May 18, 18 days after the explosion.

And if you remember, Robert Moscillo had been killed instantly.

I’ve just told you what happened over the span of a few days to a few Marines that I am connected with. We are now at more than 4,000 deaths and over 30,000 injured American troops. Iraqi deaths and injuries are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. I leave you to imagine the suffering of so many families on all sides.

I am the only direct connection for most of you (if not all of you) to this war.

It is my sincere hope this is as close as you’ll ever get to it.

This war like all wars is not just an abstract concept that you hear adults talking about. It is not a computer game. Alex and his buddies had just that one life.

Whatever the rationale for war we are given, the inescapable consequence is the destruction of things and people. You no doubt have heard many different – often contradictory – explanations for this particular war. I will say no more.

You are fortunate to attend one of the best schools in the country. By the time you graduate you will have received an exceptional education that will make you excel in whichever endeavor you choose; it is a gift you cannot take for granted.

I urge you to use this gift and your well-honed analytical skills to always seek the truth.

---