Photos that should make us all stop, think, and be VERY thankful UPDATE PG 5

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Photos that should make us all stop, think, and be VERY thankful UPDATE PG 5 (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:43:09 PM EDT

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process: "See the people in the windows? They'll sit right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have done..........

UPDATED: The first photos were temp removed due to excessive bandwidth. All I can say is thank you for very this so many time that that happened. I have gladly reposted them. In the process, I found a third photo that sadly explains the already sad second photo a little better.

Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News. At the first sight of her husband's flag-draped casket, Katherine Cathey broke into uncontrollable sobs, finding support in the arms of Major Steve Beck. When Beck first knocked on her door in Brighton to notify her of her husband's death, she glared at him, cursed him, and refused to speak to him for more than an hour. Over the next several days, he helped guide her through the grief. By the time they reached the tarmac, she wouldn't let go.

Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News. Katherine Cathey pressed her pregnant belly to her husband's casket, moaning softly. The baby, due Jan. 1, will be named James Jeffrey Cathey Jr.

I weep like an infant.

Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News. As his son's funeral neared, Jeff Cathey's tears rarely stopped. He often found comfort in the men who shared his son's uniform. "Someone asked me what I learned from my son," he said. "He taught me you need more than one friend."

Fallen Heroes Memorial: Marine 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey

Guest Book for 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey

Marine 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey, 24, of Reno, Nevada.
Cathey died of injuries caused by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Al Karmah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Died on August 21, 2005.

ETA: The first photo was actually chosen as a Photo of the Year: bop.nppa.org/2006/still_photography/winners/GNN/57291/108807.html

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:46:25 PM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:49:20 PM EDT

[#2]

those have to be the most emotional photographs I've ever seen.

God Bless us all

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:49:26 PM EDT

[#3]

Something I think about everyday..

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:50:35 PM EDT

[#4]

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:51:25 PM EDT

[#5]

You just made a grown man cry.

God bless our fallen heros.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:51:44 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
You just made a grown man cry.

God bless our fallen heros.

+1

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:53:09 PM EDT

[#7]

Thank you for this.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:53:35 PM EDT

[#8]

wow.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:54:34 PM EDT

[#9]

Glad to have you home, Marine.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:55:36 PM EDT

[#10]

Thanks.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:56:32 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept
doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have done..........

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:57:18 PM EDT

[#12]

I remember voting for the first photo in that Time magazine photo of the year poll, but never knew the whole story. Thanks for posting it.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:58:27 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You just made a grown man cry.

God bless our fallen heros.

+1

+1 again

thank you for your sacrifice 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:58:41 PM EDT

[#14]

RIP Marine

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:01:47 PM EDT

[#15]

moving stuff.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:01:59 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
wow.

www.ar15.com/images/smilies/smiley_salute.gif

+1

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:02:54 PM EDT

[#17]

Heartbreaking.

RIP brave warrior.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:05:15 PM EDT

[#18]

Semper Fi.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:06:44 PM EDT

[#19]

Valhalla definitely has a good seat for him. RIP. hooah.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:08:49 PM EDT

[#20]

What can you say?

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:10:22 PM EDT

[#21]

I have chills from reading that.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:12:54 PM EDT

[#22]

...speechless.....

This just makes me more pissed and angry towards all the war protestors/activist ect. These men died protecting our freedoms. We all need to be thankful. Regardless of the feelings on war, agree/disagree is not the issue. But Showing support for our men and women in uniform should not be a question. If you do not support our troops, You are NO AMERICAN in my eyes!!!

God Bless~

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:16:01 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
...speechless.....

This just makes me more pissed and angry towards all the war protestors/activist ect. These men died protecting our freedoms. We all need to be thankful. Regardless of the feelings on war, agree/disagree is not the issue. But Showing support for our men and women in uniform should not be a question. If you do not support our troops, You are NO AMERICAN in my eyes!!!

God Bless~

I could not have said it better myself...

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:20:01 PM EDT

[#24]

that last picture choked me up bad

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:22:56 PM EDT

[#25]

Great pics!

[sniff]I think I got something in my eye.[/sniff]

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:25:29 PM EDT

[#26]

That second photo choked me up.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:25:39 PM EDT

[#27]

I wish I had the link to the story about him. It was actually a tory about the casualty assistance officers and they wrote about this wife and how they went about helping her.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:25:47 PM EDT

[#28]

WOW! Renewed thoughts for our men and women in harms way. God Bless.

Thanks for the post.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:28:47 PM EDT

[#29]

By the time I finished reading the caption on the second pic, I was reading through teary eyes.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:31:28 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
By the time I finished reading the caption on the second pic, I was reading through teary eyes.

Me too.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:31:50 PM EDT

[#31]

Puts things in perspective doesn't it

We must not forget our sons and daughters

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:35:46 PM EDT

[#32]

Wow, very nice

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:38:41 PM EDT

[#33]

Wow. That's breathtaking.

-K

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:39:15 PM EDT

[#34]

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:41:01 PM EDT

[#35]

Thank God for the US Marines. Makes me proud to pay my taxes to support their effort protecting my butt.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:43:22 PM EDT

[#36]

I've been a cop for the last 12 years, doing Traffic Homicide for the past 10. I've seen so many tragedies in my career. Not much bothers me anymore. My wife sometimes tells me I have a calloused heart.

That last picture and it's description brought tears to my eyes.

RIP Marine.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:49:14 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
that last picture choked me up bad

+1

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:51:11 PM EDT

[#38]

Wow. That second one is .......

Wow.

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:51:36 PM EDT

[#39]

Hopefully, an arfcommer who is also a history or political science teacher will share this with his/her classes.........

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:55:11 PM EDT

[#40]

There has never been a time in which we could have been more proud of our uniformed services than right now.

When I see young people like those Marines, I know in my heart as sure as I know anything that I am witnessing Another Great Generation.

Sure, there aren't as many, but there have never been any better.

I have never been prouder to be an American nor felt more unworthy of such sacrifices. As God is my witness, I can never do anything to deserve the the service that these Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Coasties render me.

Like the man onced asked, "Where does America keeping finding young people such as these?"

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:59:21 PM EDT

[#41]

Powerful.
RIP

Posted: 4/6/2006 1:59:57 PM EDT

[#42]

I can't help but cry after reading the captions and viewing those pictures. Very moving.

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:00:53 PM EDT

[#43]

Wow.

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:02:47 PM EDT

[#44]

tag

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:06:06 PM EDT

[#45]

Excellent post.

May God be with you, Marine, and all of our courageous men and women in uniform.

Semper Fi.

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:07:53 PM EDT

[#46]

God bless Mrs. Cathey, God bless the Marines and God bless the United States of America!

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:11:13 PM EDT

[#47]

Brings a tear to your eye doesn't it?

It's a real shame that we would probably never see this reported anywhere but here.

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:13:32 PM EDT

[#48]

Y'know....I was already having a pretty crappy day here..... but these kinda put things into a bit of perspective.

My heart goes out to Katherine Cathey, for the loss of her husband (my fellow Marine), tears shed for a brother I never knew.

Semper Fi.

No Expert

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:13:40 PM EDT

[#49]

god bless him

Choked up and without words, sad story but posted very well. Absolutley beautifull how she slept next to him for one last time and to have his fellow marines offer to watch over her, such character.

God bless them all and pray for a safe return for them all.

Posted: 4/6/2006 2:33:58 PM EDT

[#50]

Quoted:

Wow!

Travis

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Photos that should make us all stop, think, and be VERY thankful UPDATE PG 5 (Page 1 of 4)

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