I kept my sons’ fate from baby-faced troops

IT’S just over three years since my son was injured in Iraq and I had to stand by uselessly and watch him take his last breath.

Now, more than 18 months after making the move to Ireland in an attempt to get back to some sort of life and six months after watching Barack Obama sworn in as US president and promising change, the reality of it all hit me when I least expected it.

Having been offered a chance to travel to Belgium and Holland I was so looking forward to my trip. But my excitement did not last very long.

The trip to Shannon went fine but as I entered the lounge after security, I was hit square in the face by hundreds of US soldiers and marines.

There were some baby-faced kids heading, I found out, to Afghanistan. Since the day that my son, Marine Sgt Matthew Fenton, died I have been pointing out the ages of servicemen wounded and killed in the two wars that America is fighting.

I always believed Afghanistan was the “good” war. Now I firmly believe there is no such thing. I spoke to some of the marines, but I did not tell them about my son. I just wished they were on their way home where they belong. I failed in my attempt to hold back the tears.

John Fenton

Gold Star Families Speak Out

Crosshaven

Co Cork