True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
- Arthur Ashe
Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook
After a 22-year career in the US Army, Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Shiprock, New Mexico, wanted nothing more than to retire, to spend time with his wife, Charlene, and their three sons, Zachary, 20, Joshua, 18, and Joseph, 14. He wanted to fish and hunt with his boys, his favourite pastime. Sadly, he won't get that opportunity, because he died on October 7th, 2009, in Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, in Washington, DC, as a result of wounds suffered in an ambush on September 8th, 2009, when insurgents attacked his unit in the Ganjigal Valley, Afghanistan.
"He was going to drop off his retirement papers as soon as he got back," Charlene Westbrook said."The boys were growing up so fast. Every time he would return, he would apologize to them.'Boys, just give me time. I am going to retire soon.'" Sgt. Westbrook was due home, and to submit those retirement papers, next month, after a year long deployment, his second in the current wars. His first was to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2007. He was also deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991.
Sgt. Westbrook was a member of the 1st Infantry Division of Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was also born while his father was serving in the Army. His brother, Marshall "Alan" Westbrook, a member of the Army National Guard of New Mexico, was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Iraq on October 1st, 2005.
Charlene and Kenneth Westbrook were childhood sweethearts, who met in Shiprock, NM, when Kenneth was 13 years old. Even at that young age he was determined to become a soldier, as he told her at their first meeting.
There was so much hope when he was first injured. When he first arrived at Walter Reed, "He could see that I was there. I told him I love him. He told me, 'I love you.' He said, "Be strong.'" Charlene Westbrook said. " I just knew he was going to get better." Sgt. Westbrook was smiling, laughing and joking with the staff about sneaking him a beer. A few days later he was transfered to intensive care and his health deteriorated.
Sgt. Westbrook was not the only one injured or killed in the ambush, nine Afghans were killed and 20 US and Afghan troops were wounded in the attack, which is under investigation.
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT) I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, and JeNoCo.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
Thank you for your service, Sgt. 1st Class Westbrook.
With gratitude and respect,
For Dan,
Heather