25 years old from Paterson, New Jersey
3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade
May 11, 2009
On Mother’s Day, Eugenia Gardos made a tabletop shrine to her recently deceased mother — surrounding her photograph with silk roses, a small white rosary cross, two votive candles and a prayer card of Senor de los Milagros, the patron saint of Peru.
The next day, May 11, she added her son's picture to the shrine for the dead.
Sgt. Gardos was killed along with five fellow servicemen; Army Spc. Jacob D. Barton, Army Maj. Matthew P. Houseal, Navy Cmdr. Charles K. Springle and Army Pfc. Michael E. Yates Jr. in the attack on Camp Liberty.
"The first time he left for Iraq, when they would read the lists of the dead on the news, we used to hold our breath, praying he wasn't on it," his mother said. "I don't understand how he could have died this way. I just don't understand it."
Sgt. Galdos had emigrated with his family from Mollendo, Peru, as a child and had been a U.S. citizen since high school. His mother, two older brothers and older sister recalled how he used to hand out candy to children in Iraq the same way he always did in Paterson — never making a trip to the corner bodega without a group of neighborhood children tailing behind, knowing he would buy them candy or a soda.
"We were all here at home," Carlos Bueno, Sgt. Galdos's father, said. "I was getting ready to go to bed when I heard screaming downstairs. I ran downstairs and everyone had thrown themselves to the floor, thrashing around, screaming."
Bueno said he does not feel bitterness toward the man accused in the shootings, whom he described as "mentally ill."
"We want people to know we're proud of our son's Army, but if my son had died in war we would be able to handle that," he said. "But not to die in this manner."
All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com
12 comments:
When someone loses a child a parent always asks why????
God's ways are so far above our ways. That is why we must have faith, hope and perserverance.
My hearts goes out to his family.
did you see this on Army Wife Toddler Mom's site?
http://armywifetoddlermom.blogspot.com/
God Bless him and his fellow fallen soldiers.
The father was right, they all go over there knowing there is a chance they will be injured or killed. That is part of their bravery. But to die by the hands of a fellow soldier is unforgivable. The man who did this should have been dropped right where he stood.
Mentally ill????? I just feel that phrase is way over used for just plain meanness sometimes. I used to work in the court system and had to quit because I couldn't bear to hear one more person blame their actions on something from childhood or something.
Godd bless his family's heart. Their pain and sorrow must be two fold.....
Steady On
Reggie Girl
this is so sad, rip my friend, i will not forget
grandma...my heart also hurts for this family!
joyce...thank you!
kat...amen!
coffeypot...as a mom, all I can is my heart hurts so very deeply for this family. I cannot even begin to imagine their pain.
RG...the only 'insanity' is in our system at times! (imho)
sarge...you and me, my friend!
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