browzin
03-01-2005, 10:41 AM
To help the soldiers armor up, please go to http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/armor.php
Saving Our Soldiers
Air Date: 03/11/2004
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, an important fight in our own backyard to better equip our soldiers. A local family, who lost their son is on a mission. The "Night Team's" Caterina Bandini with their story.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"There's a realization that you don't have anything else to lose."
Brian and Alma Hart of Bedford have already suffered the worst loss imaginable, their 20-year-old son John killed in action in Iraq. Last October the private first class was in his Humvee when he was ambushed. John fought back to save himself and his fellow soldiers, but his Humvee offered no protection.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"Their vehicle had no armor or protection and so they were essentially shot up in the vehicle that had no doors or paneling."
Caterina Bandini
"So they were just wide open in this car there was nothing, no where to go so they can fire back?"
Alma Hart, Soldier's Mother
"He fired until he ran out of bullets… and they shot him while reloading."
Caterina Bandini
"He really gave his life for them?"
Alma Hart, Soldier's Mother
"Yes."
John called his parents a week before his death saying he was concerned that his Humvee had no protective armor. The Harts say there are thousands of unarmored Humvees in Iraq.
In recent testimony the Army's secretary said they hadn't realized that these unprotected vehicles, especially those in convoys, would be targeted by the enemy.
After John's death, the Harts knew they had to do something.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"If your son called you and told you a way to save several hundred of his friends, you'd have to oblige that and that's basically what happened."
They contacted Senator Ted Kennedy to push the Army into sending more armored Humvees into Iraq. Kennedy moved quickly, holding hearings of the Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D) Massachusetts
"The Defense Department is behind the times and that's wrong and we're going to do all we can to make sure they have that kind of equip."
The acting secretary of the army recently visited Ogara Hess and Eisenhardt, the manufacturer in Ohio, which makes these armored Humvees. The secretary hopes to have 450 made a month, but right now there is only enough funding to make 220 a month for five months.
The Harts believe it's not enough.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"As of this evening I can tell you no purchase orders have been placed for the vehicles necessary to solve this problem."
They're also concerned that the President's 2005 budget included no money for retrofitting old Humvees with armor plates and only enough money for 818 new armored Hunvees next year. A number, say the Harts, that doesn't add up to the President's pledge in his state of the union.
President Bush
"My administration and this congress will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror."
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"What we would like to see is him fulfill that promise."
Caterina Bandini
"In your mind, how devastating is it that we cannot come up w the money, with struggle for the monney to buy these essential things to keep people alive?"
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"It's just insane. A couple of hundred kids are going to get hit this year because this issue is not being addressed squarely."
Just this past week another soldier was killed in an unarmored Humvee.
Alma Hart, Soldier's Mother
"They volunteered, enlisted, we have to live up to our obligation to these young people."
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"You know they're fighting this fight... so feel it’s our obligation whether it’s Bush or someone else in office to see these men and women have equipment they need… We owe it to them."
General Abizaid, who's in charge of the troops in Iraq, recently promised Senator Kennedy he is moving as fast as he can to get more armored Humvees to Iraq. The Harts and other families, who lost soldiers, will be watching closely.
Saving Our Soldiers
Air Date: 03/11/2004
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, an important fight in our own backyard to better equip our soldiers. A local family, who lost their son is on a mission. The "Night Team's" Caterina Bandini with their story.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"There's a realization that you don't have anything else to lose."
Brian and Alma Hart of Bedford have already suffered the worst loss imaginable, their 20-year-old son John killed in action in Iraq. Last October the private first class was in his Humvee when he was ambushed. John fought back to save himself and his fellow soldiers, but his Humvee offered no protection.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"Their vehicle had no armor or protection and so they were essentially shot up in the vehicle that had no doors or paneling."
Caterina Bandini
"So they were just wide open in this car there was nothing, no where to go so they can fire back?"
Alma Hart, Soldier's Mother
"He fired until he ran out of bullets… and they shot him while reloading."
Caterina Bandini
"He really gave his life for them?"
Alma Hart, Soldier's Mother
"Yes."
John called his parents a week before his death saying he was concerned that his Humvee had no protective armor. The Harts say there are thousands of unarmored Humvees in Iraq.
In recent testimony the Army's secretary said they hadn't realized that these unprotected vehicles, especially those in convoys, would be targeted by the enemy.
After John's death, the Harts knew they had to do something.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"If your son called you and told you a way to save several hundred of his friends, you'd have to oblige that and that's basically what happened."
They contacted Senator Ted Kennedy to push the Army into sending more armored Humvees into Iraq. Kennedy moved quickly, holding hearings of the Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D) Massachusetts
"The Defense Department is behind the times and that's wrong and we're going to do all we can to make sure they have that kind of equip."
The acting secretary of the army recently visited Ogara Hess and Eisenhardt, the manufacturer in Ohio, which makes these armored Humvees. The secretary hopes to have 450 made a month, but right now there is only enough funding to make 220 a month for five months.
The Harts believe it's not enough.
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"As of this evening I can tell you no purchase orders have been placed for the vehicles necessary to solve this problem."
They're also concerned that the President's 2005 budget included no money for retrofitting old Humvees with armor plates and only enough money for 818 new armored Hunvees next year. A number, say the Harts, that doesn't add up to the President's pledge in his state of the union.
President Bush
"My administration and this congress will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror."
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"What we would like to see is him fulfill that promise."
Caterina Bandini
"In your mind, how devastating is it that we cannot come up w the money, with struggle for the monney to buy these essential things to keep people alive?"
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"It's just insane. A couple of hundred kids are going to get hit this year because this issue is not being addressed squarely."
Just this past week another soldier was killed in an unarmored Humvee.
Alma Hart, Soldier's Mother
"They volunteered, enlisted, we have to live up to our obligation to these young people."
Brian Hart, Soldier's Father
"You know they're fighting this fight... so feel it’s our obligation whether it’s Bush or someone else in office to see these men and women have equipment they need… We owe it to them."
General Abizaid, who's in charge of the troops in Iraq, recently promised Senator Kennedy he is moving as fast as he can to get more armored Humvees to Iraq. The Harts and other families, who lost soldiers, will be watching closely.