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Sept. 13, 2007, 5:55AM
Texas City GI who died had criticized war in Iraq
Death of troops to heighten debate after their editorial appeared in
papers

By DANE SCHILLER
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle 

The sharp words of a Texas City soldier who was critical of the war in
Iraq and killed there this week may continue to echo in Washington.

Sgt. Omar Mora and six other enlisted soldiers, including one who was
killed in the same non-combat accident Monday, recently signed a bold,
public letter in which they questioned whether the war in Iraq can be
won militarily.

The letter � published as a column sharing the view of a group of
soldiers in battle � was referenced in a Senate hearing this week in
which Gen. David Petraeus delivered an update on the war.

It was first printed in The New York Times on Aug. 19 and later picked
up by the Houston Chronicle and other outlets.

"They will soon realize that the best way to regain dignity is to call
us what we are � an army of occupation � and force our withdrawal,"
the letter says of the Iraqi people. "We need not talk about our
morale," it concludes. "As committed soldiers, we will see this
mission through."

Mora's family, Ecuadoran immigrants, said the 28-year-old was
exhausted by Iraq and wanted to put the war behind him when he was due
to return to the United States in November.

"He told me, 'Mama, I am tired, I am so tired. I want to come home,' "
his mother, Olga Capetillo, recalled of a recent phone conversation.

"I told him to believe in God, and he will bring you home safe and
sound," she said in Spanish through sobs. "My son is an American who
gave his life for this country."

Mora's brother, Roger Mora, said nobody should doubt his patriotism.

"I think it was a very courageous decision not just on the part of my
brother, but all the soldiers to voice their opinion," Roger Mora
said. "We as Americans have that ability, that is very privileged," he
continued.

He declined to share the family's views on the war, but they were
unaware of his having any trouble with other soldiers after it was
published.

In addition to Mora, the letter was signed by Spc. Buddhika Jayamaha;
Sgt. Wesley D. Smith; Sgt. Jeremy Roebuck; Sgt. Edward Sandmeier;
Staff Sgt. Jeremy A. Murphy and Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, who was
killed along with Mora.

A woman who answered the phone at the Gray family home said she was
was exhausted by the emotion of losing her son and could not talk.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a Pentagon spokesman, said soldiers have
a right to speak their minds.

"Regarding freedom of speech, service members may exercise their right
to free speech and speak to the media as long as they are voicing
their opinion," Withington said.

Judith LeBlanc, co-chairperson for United For Peace and Justice, a
nationwide coalition to end the war, said the soldiers' letter as well
as their deaths will add to the war debate.

"Their deaths are going to arouse people's awareness that this war is
not able to be won militarily, but in fact the only solution � as they
argued in the op-ed piece � is a political solution," LeBlanc said.

"I am hoping when people hear about the passing of these soldiers,
they will decide to call their congressperson and be part of speaking
out as they need to do," she said.

A third author of the letter was reportedly shot in the head and is
expected to survive. Citing privacy laws, the Pentagon declined to
confirm the injury.




http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5130698.html


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