The Face of Number 4,000 in Iraq

When George W. Bush flew with great fanfare onto the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003 and announced from the flight deck that the war in Iraq was all but over, I'm sure there were sighs of relief among America's military families. I'm sure they believed that what he had said in feverishly promoting the Iraq invasion was true -- that this would be a quick victory, with little loss of military life and that his team knew what they were doing in the occupation that would follow.

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended," declared Bush, in a nationally televised address, backed by a giant banner proclaiming "mission accomplished."

With that statement, the president who lied the country and the U.S. Congress into the Iraq quagmire was again deceiving the American people, but this time the deception was that the toughest times in Iraq had past.

Of course, everyone now knows the truth.

We know that 96 percent of the Americans killed in Iraq have died since Bush boasted that our mission was accomplished and we know with sickening assurance that we have hit the hideous milestone of 4,000 of our own dead in the Bush administration's war of choice.

We arrived at that number on Sunday and we've seen it replayed in all its sterility throughout the media this entire week.

And to be sure the numbers of dead and wounded while astounding in generalities have sadly begun over the last five years to lose their specificity, to render us unable to grasp the individual stories of lives lost for no reason and so many families left with interminable grief.

But I want to tell you about number 4,000, because he has a name and he had a wonderful life to come.

His name is Christopher M. Hake. He was a U.S. Army Staff Sargent. More importantly, he was a husband to wife Kelli and a father to 1-year-old son, Gage.

He was from Enid, Oklahoma -- and he was 26 years old.

We can't say for sure that Hake was number 4,000 of our Iraq dead because Pvt. George Delgado, 21, of Palmdale, Calif., Pfc. Andrew J. Habsieger, 22, of Festus, Mo. and Spc. Jose A. Rubio Hernandez, 24, of Mission, Texas all died in a horrible blast earlier this week when, according to the Defense Department, "their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive" in Baghdad.

But as a Veteran myself, I can tell you that these men were brothers until the end and that, because more early news and details are available on Chris Hake than his buddies, we can tell his story and hope all Americans understand the identical preciousness of every life we have needlessly lost in Iraq.

Hake, a graduate of the Oklahoma Bible Academy (OBA), who lived with his wife and infant son near Fort Stewart, GA, was described by grieving family members as a man devoted to his belief that he was helping the Iraqi people and, more than anything, the men with whom he served.

"He was 100 percent sure we should be there, and he talked of the love of the Iraqi people for him and his guys," said his father, Peter Hake, who also said his son loved the men in his command. "He said they would die for each other, and they did,"

And he had made a quick decision to sign up. The boy described by his father as an "energetic, rambunctious kid" simply went to the military recruiter's office after he graduated from high school and returned home having enlisted in the Army.

"He got out of high school and didn't know what to do. I mentioned the service, and I was thinking the Air Force," Pete Hake said. "He went down to see his recruiter that day and came home and told me he had joined the Army."

The 26-year-old, who was on his second combat deployment to Iraq, was remembered by his former high school principal as respectful and quiet.

"We saw him go on after graduation in 2000 to show his true heart as a kid who is very devoted. He still had strong ties here at OBA," said Principal Mark Shuck of the young man who graduated in 2000. "He was an all-American kid. He was 'yes sir,' 'no sir' and very respectful. I would use him as an example to other kids as they grow up. He always fit that mode very well."

"He was quietly compassionate. He generally cared for people."

Chris Hake had been married for just under three years and his father said going on the second tour of duty in Iraq was an enormously difficult choice -- made all the more painful by having to leave his baby son.

"It literally tore his heart out to walk out on that boy," said Peter Hake. "It made him wish he could be done with the war."

As do the vast majority of Americans.

We should not forget either that tens of thousand of Iraqi civilians have been killed since the U.S. invaded in March 2003. And as the 2008 elections draw near and we contemplate the enormous importance of selecting a new president and a larger Democratic majority in Congress, we must remember every day our own loss of 4,000 vital, important human beings who had a lot of living left to be done.

These were our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, who because of the policies of the Bush administration will never hug their spouses or parents again and will never see their kids grow up.

And near or on number 4,000, we should remember the face of Christopher M. Hake, who died at only 26 years old.

The soldier's MySpace page is still up and still holds pictures of him, his young wife and his beautiful baby boy. And his last post, from January 9, 2008, is a haunting reminder of an American full of hope, trying to do the right thing but who ultimately only wanted to return home to his family.

"I will be going on mid-tour leave in July. Kelli, Gage and I are going to spend that time in GA by ourselves," wrote Hake in explaining to his family back home in Oklahoma. "This will be the first time in 8 years I haven't gone to OK for vacation. But our priorities have changed drastically since we had our son."

"But when I do come home for good in '09, we will see everyone. Continue to keep our little family in your prayers. We will keep all of you in ours."

You can read more from Bob at The Agonist.

Comments

[ddempesy]

God Bless you Bob Geiger for giving a face the a number. This country owes so much to these fine men and women serving this country and their families. Putting faces to the numbers may make more people aware of the devastating cost of this war. We need to bring our troops home.

[nancytheragingliberal]

I agree. Thank you for giving us this beautiful picture of this young, vibrant family. The Bush thugs have done a great job, hiding our teenage dead soldiers, when they return under the cover of night to this country. The flag-drapped coffins should be seen by all Americans, each and every one of them. They fought in a filthy war, based on Cheney/Bush lies, to enrich corporations, particularly Halliburton. Cheney/Bush are sheer evil, Gargoyles, who sleep well and don't give one second of their thoughts to our young dead. It is an outrage that the media and congress turned the other way and allowed this phony war to begin.

It is now on to Iran, and ditto to what I just wrote. Americans should be marching in the streets. They will, when Pres. crazy McCain brings back the draft, count on it. I drove from Massachusetts, to Washington to March with thousands of people. The march was not shown on any T.V. station. Why should it? The media is owned by five, greedy corporations. Americans have lost all fair reporting of news, although, I must say that MSNBC is beginning to be the alternative to "Fair and Balanced," Murdock Fake News Station. It is about time.

[Sundialsvc4]

"So?" -- Dick Cheney

"He volunteered." -- Dick Cheney

"It's necessary." -- George Bush

"If they are going to die, then they had better do it, and rid the world of the surplus population ..."
-- Ebenezer Scrooge
.

So, now that we've topped 4,000 dead and more than 20,000 who may as well be dead, and half-a-million dead Iraqis, do tell me: is Impeachment still "off the table?"

Is it really possible, today, to simply waltz away from the same War Crimes that this nation prosecuted in Nuremberg? To brazenly commit the torture that Japanese officers were executed for? Is it, like, just "okay" to do these things if you're a civil-officer of the right country?

[wolf58]

This young mans death is just as heartbreaking as the first. They all had futures, familes and dreams and all lost them. What is even more troubling is many more will fall before Bin Bush leaves office. Over 900 service members have died in Bush's surge of which he still as of today declares a success. This in a sort of twisted way goes hand in hand with his aircraft carrier speech, everytime this man declares success thousands of service members die.

Everything GW Bush/Cheney and his flying monkeys have done are acts of treason and everyday that they are allowed to stay in power more and more Americans will die. The congress made of all parties have the tools and the power to correct this wrong and they should but they won't because most lack the courage and they lack patriotism.

Just keep this in mind
BinLaden loves GW Bush
Bush has done more harm to our country than Bin Laden could only dream of

[mcshaggy]

What about the face of Number 3,999 in Iraq? Let's be real here. No one in this country cares about them or the Hundred Thousand Iraqi faces.

[springsm]

I am sorry, mcshag...you are so wrong with your statement. Maybe the adminstration does not care one iota, but the people of this country do. We don't burn flags, bras, buildings or kids on college campusus...but we care. I don't know why there isn't more demonstrative actions on the behalf of these people killed ours and theirs....but we care. So be careful who you are pointing your finger towards.,,three come back at you.

[Thatcher]

This war was wrong from day one. Why should we continue sacrificing the lives of our countries young men and women for an unjust and wrong war? I am a former sailor and was appalled by the lies we were given from day one to enter this war. I was staunchly opposed when Colin Powell showed clip art graphics that details so-called biological war vehicles - I laughed thinking no one is going to take a clip art "artist's conception" as fact and go into war. But our government did. It was wrong then ... it's wrong now. I am sadden by the loss of life because of it. But staying there won't make the war right - it will only continue to wrongly send our young men and women in harm's way for no purpose.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - BRING THEM HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ALIVE!

[jrockbg]

Bob,
Well that was a mouthful. I appreciate the human face that you add to the number 4000 dead US soldiers in Iraq.

That said, I will assume, since you are a vet, you know a few things. I'll assume you know that Gen. Tommy Franks asked for the president to make a clear statement recognizing that the US military had in fact accomplished the mission they were given at the time. I'll assume you know that Congress, along with most Democrats supported the initial mission. I'll assume you know that an unforeseeable insurgency came about slowly. In fact, it wasn't until nearly a year after "mission accomplished" that we suffered as many casualties after that statement as we had before. I'll just assume you know all that.

You're "Bush lied" conspiracies and hyperbole do not hold water. They don't stand up to fact and lack apparent context...and YOU KNOW IT. The invasion didn't need to be "sold" at that point. We had just kicked serious Iraqi Army butt! Pres. Bush knew a massive insurgency would arise about as much as anyone from Congress to the Psychic Friends Network. He had every reason to say "Mission Accomplished" to his troops. Hey Bob, "Hindsight is not wisdom"- Pres. G.W. Bush

[GnitenGoodLk]

""Bush lied" conspiracies"

You've gotta be kidding. He made Congress duke it out over the definition of "civil war" Outright said our troops were lying or were "mistaken" about what they were witnessing on the ground. We spent almost a year just getting him to admit there indeed was a civil war in progress.

Support our Troops indeed, unless you don't like what they're reporting back. these are policies that kill and cause debacles.

Petraeus, is that you?

[SeriousBlack]

You've got to be kidding. Cheney cherry-picked the intelligence in order to attack Iran, something that he and a whole cabal of neocons wanted to do since 90's and only needed an excuse to do so. 9/11 was their excuse. Open your freaking eyes for pete's sake.

[esaid]

You've got to be kidding, lol, couldn't resist making it 3.

The "insurgents" are mostly Iraqis and yes the reaction of Iraqis to a power vacuum and an oppressive occupation was foreseeable.

[jrockbg]

Ok. So a massive insurgency that nearly put the country back in the stone ages, killed thousands of its own citizens, in one of the most highly developed middle eastern nations was "possible". But by no means was it certain. Hardly even probable. While I concede that disbanding the military and too few troops initially are partly to blame for the level of insurgency, to say that it was foreseeable is...well you should join the Psychic Friends Network.

[knighthowl]

I will not join the "you must be kidding" line. You MUST BE OUT OF YOUT MIND!!!

"Bush lied" is not a conspiracy, but a fact. Well, let me take one step back from that. Perhaps he did not lie. Perhaps he is simply an idiot. Perhaps, as Commander in Chief, he did not give a rat's ass whether he was sending his troops into a fool's errand. Perhaps, as he said himself, Saddam once tried to kill his "Daddy". Perhaps he thought revenge for that supposed fact justified the loss of 4,000 troops and a trillion dollars.

That said, I will assume that you are not truly fool enough to believe that when the Idiot in Chief said "mission accomplished," a rational, knowledgeable leader would have felt comfortable making that claim at that time. Perhaps I am mistaken.

[jrockbg]

Seeing as the multiple conspiracy theories you mention do not withstand to fact...It's no surprise you see only what you want to see.

Note that the insurgency did not hit full swing until nearly a year later. Thus, there was little reason to believe the war would become what it has. So at that time it was perfectly appropriate. You Bush-derrangement sufferers want to hang him today, with a comment that was meant for the time when it was said.

[desmirl]

As sad as this death is, remember that, under Bush's next several months in office, there will be more. And, if a majority of the voters select McCain, there will be LOTS more. Oh, my.....

[LeftRight]

Thank you for this small, insufficient insight into the life of SSgt Hake, his wife, and his young son. You are entirely correct, I'm a veteran myself and even I've been losing the people in the numbers. As hard as it is, we ALL need to remember that casualties in one war are as heavy as in any other war, since death only comes once to each person....

[jrockbg]

...and I'm sure SSG Hake appreciates you using his memory for your political agenda. Most military members do not support the Iraq policy of Bob Geiger; pulling out immediately making all our previous efforts in vain. Using the memory of a serviceman, killed in combat, then inserting your own private insights not knowing whether they are in line with his...are you sure you wanna do that Bob?

[shanghaislim]

Yes! Leave now and let the chips fall where they may!

It is the inevitable of WAR anyway. The sooner the better.

Some Iraqis will say we abandoned them but the majority will be glad to get on with whatever semb;ence of life we have left them with?

Ugly thought for you jrock, but the sooner you come to realize the eventual outcome the sooner you can open your eyes to the TRUTH.

Your points above, about BUSH/CHENEY lies, that they don't hold water, is a statement from someone who has obviously been blinded by the "pixie dust" of our illegitimate administration.

History will deem you very very wrong, sir. But let's not wait for more misery, destruction and murder to prove the point?