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Beloved Son

I haven’t had to make that kind of call much since I became an editor, but tonight when it needed to be done, I preferred to be the one to do it.  Andy Bacevich answered the phone but was brusque, just said he couldn’t talk about it right now.  Later, he sent me an email.  “He joined the Army to serve his country in time of need. We love him and mourn his loss.”  And a photo of his beloved son, who looks exactly like him, smiling, with bright eyes, at Patrol Base Love, Iraq. 

I found out about it in the usual way.  I was scanning the AP’s region wire on deadline for nibs … news in brief items, a routine deadline task … and saw the story slugged “soldier killed.”  Those don’t go into nibs, but they do get opened up right away.  The name stopped me cold. Andrew J. Bacevich. 1st Lt, 3/8 Cav, 1st Cav.  I didn’t know Andy Bacevich’s son was over there, or even in the Army, but I hadn’t spoken to him in a couple of years anyway, not since I stopped reporting.

Before that it was at least six or seven times a year, for what-does-it-mean stories about Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq.  Andy didn’t like it when reporters mentioned that he was a retired Army colonel, armor, Vietnam vet, because he wanted it to be about his academic credentials, IR prof at Boston University.  He is reserved, and he and I weren’t close, just pleasant in our relations.  Except that he was the first person I ran into after the invasion who knew what I was talking about, when I talked about preferring to be up in the hatch so you can see it coming, because he had been on armored assaults, too. 

Here’s the original AP.  WBUR, the local public radio station where the elder Bacevich has often been a guest, had a little more.  Killed south of Samarra, on patrol with his men, checking vehicles, when one of them explodes. Huffington Post got on it quick, made it all about the ironic political point: Prof. Andrew J. Bacevich, critical of Bush’s Iraq war policy, son killed in Iraq.  The Globe followed suit.  

Mentioning it is unavoidable.  We did, too.  Though at this point, I think it’s more about a family’s loss.  A beloved son who followed in his father’s footsteps and gave his life for his country, as his father had put himself in harm’s way in another war four decades before. So Andy Bacevich begins the terrible journey of a father who has to bury a son, and decide for himself what it means.

I’m going to my 11-year-old son’s baseball games and band concerts these days, only wondering where life will take him.  It breaks my heart to think of a father’s dreams shattered and it is all I can do not to sob at the thought of it.  

I’m sorry for your loss, Andy.  It sounds like you have a son you can be proud of.

John Cole remembers his old CO  in 11th Cav in Germany and his CO’s kid A.J.

Romney remembers former aide.

Topics: Iraq, military

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:14 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2007

14 Responses to “Beloved Son”

1. The_Real_JeffS Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 12:26 am

   My condolences to you and your family, Professor Bacevich. May your son rest in peace.

2. saltydog Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 2:51 am

   Now he begins a long journey that will last until his own last breath, his steps a little slower because he carries his son along with him. Time will soften the terrible longing to a dull wistfulness.

   God speed, Professor.

3. Don Surber » Blog Archive » Journalism, 2007 Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 4:21 am

   […] 1. Jules Crittenden of the Boston Herald had the tough duty of interviewing a father whose son was killed in Iraq. In this case, the father was someone Crittenden knew. Touching tale: “Beloved Son.” […]

4. Viola Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 6:08 am

   My deepest sympathy for your loss, Professor Bacevich. May you and your family be strengthened and may your son rest in peace.

5. The Mahablog » A Black Matter for the King Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 8:49 am

   […] Jules Crittendon writes, A beloved son who followed in his father’s footsteps and gave his life for his country, as his father had put himself in harm’s way in another war four decades before. So Andy Bacevich begins the terrible journey of a father who has to bury a son, and decide for himself what it means. […]

6. Outside The Beltway | OTB Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 9:05 am

   1LT Andrew Bacevich Killed in Iraq

   First Lieutenant Andrew J. Bacevich, Jr. has been killed in action.
   The son of a Boston University professor who has been a critic of the war was killed in Iraq, the Defense Department said Monday. First Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich was the son of Andrew J. …

7. Death Of A Soldier: Agony Of A Father | The Moderate Voice Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 10:02 am

   […] And here… Another touching tribute… […]

8. RebeccaH Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 10:31 am

   My condolences on the loss of your son, sir. And also, for whatever it’s worth to you, my heartfelt gratitude for his service in the name of freedom.

9. twolaneflash Says:
   May 15th, 2007 at 11:10 am

   America’s Son

   I walk my only son to war,
   Knowing the door of death is open.
   I kiss him hard upon his lips,
   Their warmth clings only a moment.

   The life he offers, mine before,
   Is on the path he’s chosen.
   He walks with patriotic pride,
   With heroes brave and gallant.

   Who rages against his noble cause,
   Find his will and soul are golden.
   And though he fall to brutal hands,
   With pride my heart is swollen.

   The death of him, is it my own,
   Will this the enemy embolden?
   How shall I count the futures lost,
   Days joyless with no atonement?

   A death is owed by each of us,
   The blessed death is given,
   For others we have dearly loved,
   That they may live in freedom.

   God grant him heavenly rest and his family the peace that passes understanding.

10. The Thunder Run Says:
    May 15th, 2007 at 11:15 am

    Web Reconnaissance for 05/15/2007

    A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.

11. El Cid Says:
    May 15th, 2007 at 12:35 pm

    Professor Bacevich. Heartfelt condolences for your loss. You Sir, were lucky for the fact that YOU made it through your own battles a few decades ago, to produce a fine young man.

    May you be given the strength, to remember all of your sons life. He’ll be looking down on you and your family to move forward. May he rest in peace.

12. Wake up America-Hows surrender working for you? Says:
    May 15th, 2007 at 5:19 pm

    1st Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich: RIP

    I rarely do fallen hero pieces because this is mostly a political blog and I do not think anybody should have their death politicized.

13. charlie Says:
    May 16th, 2007 at 2:26 am

    Andy
    While I sit before my computer, I try to find a way to help make your feelings of the loss of your beloved son easier on you. I have been on this planet for many years and have been close to people who have suffered the loss of loved ones, but have yet find the words to navigate through the process in a helpful manner.

    In your case, I don’t know if this will help a little, but I pray that you had spent a good amount of time with him, teaching him how to live, love and deal with life head on. One thing I will suggest is don’t shut out the memories you had together in going through the grief process. It only bottles them up where they lurk, seeking freedom from the repression. Another thing to consider is ‘the why’ he was in Iraq. I recall in the earlier part of this script that “he joined the Army to serve his country.” What might help you with this horrendous loss is what my son, also an Army Lt. in Iraq who heads a unit doing “route clearance” (clearing roads of IEDs and EFPs) said to me before his deployment. My Michael is from a very long line of patriots who have served our country for generations and prior to his deployment, he emphatically made it clear to me that it was his choice to serve in the Army and go wherever he could to make the world a better place and keep America safe. He stressed emphatically that if he is killed not to blame or hold the Army or our government responsible. He just wanted to pay his “dues” for the freedom our country enjoys.

    My point here is that I strongly suspect that your Lt. Andy had the same idea although it wasn’t mentioned in the media very clearly. In the event you and your son didn’t have the same conversation my son and I did, please borrow from us and believe he didn’t die in vain; rather, he died doing what he wanted to do and thought he should be doing. I fully believe it will be very hard on me if my son is killed over there in spite that he firmly stressed that it was his choice and gave cogent points to support his choice.

    In closing, I strongly believe Andy has been embraced by Gods Divine Light and drawn to the place many call heaven, where his soul will unite with others who have made the ultimate sacrifice as a donation in serving humanity. May God bless him and bring peace to those he left behind.

    Charlie in San Diego, CA

14. bostonish Says:
    May 16th, 2007 at 11:46 am

    Thank you for writing this. As someone who knew Andy it has been hard seeing everything written about him be mainly about the politics of the war. Seeing Huffington and Daily kos waving a friend’s body for a political agenda is rough. It’s nice to read something that talks about the loss, rather than a cause.

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