Dead soldier's family lashes out: "To put him behind a gun was the last thing he needed"

[cali]

RICHMOND -- A 21-year-old Vermont GI was killed in Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle, his family said today.

U.S. Army Pvt. Adam Muller, of Richmond, a gunner for the 10th Mountain Division who arrived in Iraq just after Labor Day, was killed Monday, according to Susan Wells, a family friend who spoke for Muller’s mother, Kathy.

“He was loved by everyone,” said Wells, whose son was best friends with Muller. “He was a very sweet young man. We’re all devastated and angry at the same time. I think we’re all angry about this war, that so many young men are dying needlessly.”

When Muller signed up in 2006 — to make money to pay off college loans — he was told he’d be providing security for top officials, but he was told two weeks before he shipped out that he’d be a gunner, Wells said.

“We were all very angry about that. He isn’t anyone who could ever hurt a flea,” Wells said Tuesday. “To put him behind a gun was the last thing he needed.”
<snip>

RICHMOND -- A 21-year-old Vermont GI was killed in Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle, his family said today.

U.S. Army Pvt. Adam Muller, of Richmond, a gunner for the 10th Mountain Division who arrived in Iraq just after Labor Day, was killed Monday, according to Susan Wells, a family friend who spoke for Muller’s mother, Kathy.

“He was loved by everyone,” said Wells, whose son was best friends with Muller. “He was a very sweet young man. We’re all devastated and angry at the same time. I think we’re all angry about this war, that so many young men are dying needlessly.”

When Muller signed up in 2006 — to make money to pay off college loans — he was told he’d be providing security for top officials, but he was told two weeks before he shipped out that he’d be a gunner, Wells said.

“We were all very angry about that. He isn’t anyone who could ever hurt a flea,” Wells said Tuesday. “To put him behind a gun was the
last thing he needed.”

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/NEWS01/71106005/1009&theme=

And Congress does nothing. No impeachment, no holding back funding. Congress does nothing.

[AuntPatsy]

1. K & R, heartbreaking.

[DS1]

2. This will sound callous, but "providing security for top officials" almost invariably involves guns

I doubt they trained him to fight off attackers like Jet Li.

[cali]

3. Yeah, but I imagine it's a lot safer to be providing

security for top officials than to be a gunner. I think that's the difference.

[MadMaddie]

4. They lie to get the kids in and then use them as disposable

fodder...

These polices will continue to kill young men and women and most of all continue to weaken and destroy the military. I am now convinced this is one of the goals of this Administration to destroy the military as we know it and hire the Blackwaters.....

Bless this family and all other military families that have lost loved ones.

[flashl]

5. Prayers to Pvt. Adam Muller and family. n/t

[Quantess]

6. Very sad.

[ManiacJoe]

7. I realize that people say weird things when in grief,

but when you join the army during active combat missions, there is no question about IF you will be behind a gun. The only question is, "How big is the gun?" (m16 vs m60 vs .50 cal)

As a general rule, the standard army does not do protection details. That would be handed off to Spec Ops, as a rule.

[cali]

8. you're right.

but this kid isn't the only one who joined to further his education, and I have heard stories about recruiters making hollow promises.

[democrank]

9. Rest in peace, Pvt. Muller.

I cried when I saw this on our local news tonight. Muller signed up to help pay for his college loans. What a tragic, tragic waste of life.