Part II
Fallen Soldier’s Parents Send Letters to Obama
The January 19 death of US Marine Cpl. Joseph D. “Joey” Logan shook the Willis community where he grew up to its core after the Vietnam era helicopter occupied by Logan and five other Marines went down in the mountains of Afghanistan. Joey’s parents, Tom and Debi Logan, both served in the United States Air Force and they have two other children who remain in the military and still have their parents’ support despite their brother’s death. The deeply patriotic couple says they still believe in serving their country and the two former soldiers have no regrets about raising three more. The Logan family has no regrets and no bitterness about their son’s death, with one exception.
The Marine Corps made proper notification and the Logan family says the Marines provided more support than the family ever expected in the days following the terrible tragedy. But it was not only the Marine Corps. Residents of Montgomery County and beyond turned out in record numbers, in a touching show of patriotism, to demonstrate their gratitude and to support Joey Logan’s family as the fallen soldier made his final trip home. When a rumor spread that members of that church (which we refuse to dignify again by naming here) were planning a protest, there was outrage and Patriot Guard took their flags to make a human wall so the Logan family would be shielded from the disgraceful and ungrateful actions the blood of their son and so many others made possible. But the protestors never showed their faces. The funeral service and procession were carried out flawlessly, and with military precision, a tribute befitting a decorated soldier who loved, lived for and died for his country.
In the early days after Joey Logan’s death, his parents received letter upon letter, as well as cards and calls of condolence and gratitude for their son’s ultimate sacrifice. From the day of his death, from the highest ranking military officials down to local officials, law enforcement, and ordinary citizens who never knew the family before Joey’s untimely death, the outpouring of support and respect expressed for the fallen soldier was overwhelming.
It was only after the services had ended, the media was gone and the flags around the county were returned to full staff that reality began to truly sink in. The Logans began putting together their mementos. But something was missing – something important and more than deserved – an expression of condolence from the Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Hussein Obama.
It was nearly five months after Marine Cpl. Joseph D. Logan’s death, when a message arrived from the White House. To make matters worse, say the Logans, the letter was delivered not by a Marine or any sort of government representative, but by UPS. The disrespect did not end there, they said. The form letter from President Obama, dated May 9 and delivered May 16, appears to have an autopen signature.
Tom and Debi Logan felt the need to express their feelings individually. US Representative Kevin Brady made sure their letters reached the White House.
The Logans shared their important and excruciating letters to the President. The full content is posted below, because this publication believes every word is important and hopes they will be read by as many Americans as possible so they may have a truer understanding of the sacrifice of our soldiers, the pain of their families, and the unconscionable treatment of them by the man who holds our beloved nation’s highest office.
Tom Logan’s letter to President Obama:
“My name is Thomas M. Logan, father of Marine Corporal Joseph Daniel Logan, who lost his life in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on 01-19-2012. Joseph along with five other crewmembers, Captain
Daniel B. Bartle, Captain Nathan R. McHone, Master Sergeant Travis W. Riddick, Corporal Kevin J. Reinhard and Corporal Jesse W. Stites, crashed on a mountainside supporting the second combat mission of that day. These brave men were professional soldiers who knew the risks of their missions.
They went into battle for our country without hesitation. My son’s death has caused great grief in our family and the families of his fellow Marines. They were honored by their unit, the 363 Red Lions, as the "FALLEN SIX".
Let me tell you something about our family, and why we love this country so much. At the time of Joey’s death we had three of our children serving on active duty in the U.S. military. Thomas J. Logan is in the Navy, and was deployed off the cost of Libya. Andrea R. Logan, a Marine, was attending a school in Virginia, and is currently stationed in Japan. Joey was in Afghanistan. My wife, Debi, and I enlisted in the Air Force in the 70’s. We served the Houston Police Department for 21 years and 26 years respectively. We have been serving our country and community all our lives and our children are following the same path. We taught our children to love God, Family, and Country, and to serve others.
These truths are absolute and eternal.
Their helicopter fell out of the dark night sky without a reason or warning. God took them to guard the Gates of Heaven. Their work on earth was finished. This left a huge empty spot in our hearts. The Marines came that same night and knocked on our door. What do you think their last thoughts and words were? I know each solider says a flight prayer before every mission; not for themselves but for the men they ate, slept, flew, fought, and died with. Who really cared about them? They were all highly decorated combat veterans who have been deployed several times. Again, why are they put in harm’s way so many times? What freedom and liberty were they fighting for?
The Marine Corps has given us the greatest honor and respect that anyone could receive. At Dover Air Force Base, where the remains of our son came home, was the most solemn, dignified, heart wrenching experience any one should ever have to go through. Once again, our Marine CACO officer guided us along the sorrowful journey we were taking. The people who assisted us at Dover were wonderful and caring. Most of them were local volunteers. The Friends of the Fallen, a very compassionate support group, helped so much, and it seemed they were there every step of the way to comfort us, making sure we had food to eat, and most of all a shoulder to cry on. The Navy Chaplain unit was there for spiritual guidance in a time when it seemed God had forgotten us. Without all these people we would not have been able to endure the grief and pain we were in and still are to this day. A big part of us died that day.
Only parents that lose a child can tell you about the loss.
We were flown to Dover with a Marine Corps CACO escort and waited for three days. There were delays at the crash site. You don’t realize how far away 12,000 miles really is until you sit in a hotel room, crying, waiting for the worst day of your life to arrive. It was 3:00 a.m. when we were told the plane was about an hour out. It seemed like we had been awake for days waiting for Joey to come home. This is not the welcome home we wanted. All the families were gathered up to get ready to go over to the Dover Reception Center. A bus took us to the base. If you could see the faces of the families and soldiers that rode that short trip. This happens almost every day there. Only death could define it. One statement that a Marine made to me really summed up all that had happened up to this time. He said, "Mr. Tom, I would like you to know that I was there and the whole war stopped and everyone able was sent to the site to try to save the men. We are brothers, a family like no other. We are there for each other, not the war or the cause." These words have given me the greatest honor and love for our military. Think about it, all they have out there is each other. The love and compassion you could see on their faces brought me to tears. We became part of a greater family that day.
The families arrived at the center and were escorted into the building. We were made as comfortable as possible and given warm winter coats that we would need out on the flight line. Already inside were several high ranking military generals waiting to meet us. Every branch of our Armed Services was there.
While waiting inside we were told that General James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, was there to greet us and to receive our Marines back onto U.S. soil. This is called the Dignified Transfer, a term I have really come to understand. They were all present to pay their respects to us and our Fallen Hero’s. When General Amos came into the building everyone came to attention. What a sight and an honor to meet this man. He walked around the room and greeted every family member. He was accompanied by his wife, Bonnie. As he walked up to my wife, Debi, an officer of his staff introduced us.
He shook my hand and said “ I’m James Amos, tell me about your son Joseph." I was speechless, a man like him asking about another Marine as if he was his brother. I told him that Joey loved the Marines, and for the first time in his life felt proud of himself. We were so proud of our son and what he was doing for our country. Even the last phone call we had with him the morning before he died was him telling us he was going to re-enlist. The man just held my hand and would not let go. He and his wife both hugged Debi, my wife and Joey’s mother. It was like family, not the military I had expected. After that we were introduced to several officers who had been deployed or commanded the units Joey had been assigned to. Even pilots Joey flew with were there to meet us. What an amazing group of men to be in the presence of. Now I understand the feeling my son felt when he became a Marine, Semper Fl, Joey, "Forever Loyal."
Time went by slowly as we waited for the plane to land. A chilling silence came over the room when the order came for the families to start to make their way out to the flight line. It was mid-January in Delaware. We were provided warm winter jackets but nothing could warm us for what we were about to see. Our sons were coming home from a war and not the way we wanted to see them. It was so cold, snowing and raining all at the same time. We stood there shivering and in disbelief. We had just spoken to him the morning he died. An elevator was driven into position. The pain we felt was too much to endure. There were chairs for us to sit on but everyone stood there silently. Debi and I just looked at each other and cried. I could not move, as if I was locked in time, somewhere in a bad dream.
The Honor Guard was ready to receive the men in the Dignified Transfer. It was 4am. The plane taxied and got into position. The door opened and reality hit us just like the bitter cold blowing wind. Our son’s transfer case was draped with the American flag, in rows of two, six in all. On this flight were the remains of an Army Specialist and three civilian contract employee’s. Who said the war only affects the military? What was their reason for dying?
Ten men came home that day and the numbers continue to get higher. The Transfer went so slowly as one by one their names were called and they were moved to waiting vehicles to be taken to the mortuary. We were told at a briefing by the mortuary staff that it had been a terrible crash and there would be a delay on our loved one’s returning home. It was bluntly told to us that there were comingled body parts. What a memory to have to remember. A very special thank you and praise to the recovery team at the site for taking such care of our boys. And also to the Dover mortuary for all the care and work they did. This is the part of war no one wants to hear about. Within a month we received a call from our CACO officer telling us that the rest of Joey’s remains were ready to be sent home. The Marine Corps escorted Joey’s second urn of his remains back home from Dover by two sergeants to Bush airport and to our home. We now have the remains of our son home except for the blood he and his fellow Marines shed on that mountainside. There are two urns at our home to remind us of what war really does. It destroys families, dreams and futures. I have an urn ring with Joey’s ashes placed in it so I can hold him in my hand for the rest of my life until we meet again in heaven. We miss him and he can never be replaced by a letter.
Joey passed away on 01-19-2012. We received a letter from our President on 05-16-2012. The reason I wrote this letter is in hopes that when another soldier comes home his family and loved ones do not have to endure the long waiting period that we had. His Commanding Officer called us from Afghanistan the next day to tell us how sorry he was. There must be a way to honor your Fallen Hero’s and start the closure for the families in a more compassionate way and time. Our Marine CACO officer was only a phone call away and responded to almost every request made, most times in person. Could there be a system established so the branch of the military our soldier served under could be notified and the letter be transferred to them to be delivered. We received letters of condolence from Gen. Amos; Secretary of the Navy; Commander of the Pacific Fleet within a week of the crash. I remember the letter from the navy saying Joey died in combat. There were hundreds of letters received from friends, family, and the most appreciated were cards and letters written by strangers who felt compelled to express their feelings for our loss. These cards were sent by people who did not know our family and most started with a sentence saying, " I don’t know your son but can only feel the loss you are suffering." What a statement and feelings of sympathy from our country. Our entire community gathered together to receive our son home. There were thousands of people lining the highways and roads to our home the day the motorcade passed by. I have never seen anything like this reception in my life. The freeway was closed for 57 miles as the procession slowly made its way.
There were over 300 motorcycles escorting Joey home that day. This was spontaneous from a community of grateful and honorable people. On our last conversation with Joey the morning before he died, was, " I want a family reunion when I come home." Every family member was there, even his oldest brother, Tommy, who was taken off his Navy ship, the USS Mesa Verde. It is a Marine transport ship .The vessel was off the coast of Spain and he was flown home. Who was responsible for all this kindness and concern? The Captain of the Mesa Verde pulled the American flag that flew on his ship for the ten months of their deployment and presented it to Tommy to bring home and give to me. What an honor to have this flag. Andrea, our youngest daughter and a Marine, was driven to Dover by her sergeant to attend the service. Did Joey know he would be greeted like this? I think he did. My wife and I had requested a full military memorial service for Joey. We did not know what to expect. Our Marine CACO officer told us the greatest honor and respect would be given to their Fallen Fellow Marine. This man went above and beyond the solemn duty he was assigned. He contacted the chaplain’s office at Dover and the head chaplain, Lt. Commander Rowley, arrived in Houston to give the service for us. He is an awesome man. He told us later that this was the first request he had ever gotten to do a return home service for a Fallen Hero. After he returned back to Dover he wrote a three page letter that was forwarded up his chain of command. It was written because he had never seen a home coming like this in his entire career as a chaplain. Another great honor, I have a copy of this letter and will always cherish it. He stated that this country really loves our military, and they should, they are sons and daughters.
The news media covered Joey’s home coming with the utmost dignity and honor. I can’t even begin to thank them enough. Even the local shopping center near our home displayed an 80 foot tall picture of Joey as the motorcade rode past. You would not believe the miracles that happened during those three days. This country really does care. The Marine Corps arranged for Joey’s best friend, Steve Cassman, a Marine, to escort Joey back home from Dover on a private jet. Steve and Joey grew up together and Joey recruited him into the Marines. How did Steve feel on that long plane ride alone escorting his best friend home? What a ceremony that took place at the airport! There was the police honor guard, the Patriot Guard, all branches of our military standing by. I was stunned by the honor and respect. All this was for our son who gave his life for this country.
The only thing missing was a letter from the President. Was this an oversight? These men died for what they believed in and our country’s involvement in war against global terror. They had seen what our spiritual and moral enemies have done in all parts of the world. Sit down and talk to the soldiers who have fought these battles and returned home. What they have endured, 130 degrees in the summer and below zero in the winter. Did they complain?" No." I have visited our V.A. hospitals and seen what war has done to these forgotten men.
They kept focused on the mission and completed it. Joey called me in December and asked me what the wind chill factor was if he were flying at 130 mph at zero degrees. I did the calculation and it was 47 degrees below zero. He said, "No wonder we feel so cold." These were the conditions the night they died. Where is their Purple Heart for shedding every ounce of blood? The first and most important letter or phone call should have been from the Commander and Chief. It never came. How many families have felt the same way?
How would you feel when a letter that came from the President of the United Stated of America and my son’s Commander &Chief, and it was delivered out of the back of a UPS truck, written on a form letter. All five of the other families received it in the same manor. It is almost impossible to express the sinking feeling that went through me when I opened it. I felt as bad as I did that early morning, when Joey’s remains were removed from the plane at Dover. He went from a great young man who loved life and his country to a box of broken pieces. This reopened a wound that will not heal.
All we are asking for is the honor and dignity all our service men and women deserve. This is a different time and a different place. Our military all have volunteered to serve this great country. That speaks highly of the loyalty and love they all have in their hearts. I have had the great privilege of meeting many of these fine soldiers .All of them are our friends and neighbors children, that have grown up to make us and our country proud of them. I hope what I have said reaches down deep into the very fiber of this country and can change the simple things that once made this country great. I have learned that two hundred and twenty more soldiers have returned home in 2012. Please take this letter with love and compassion as you would have if this was one of your own children. We were given a gift by our son that all parents want to hear. On the last day of Joey’s life, he called us at 4:00 a.m. Afghan time and just wanted to say," I love you mom and dad." He came back home at 4:00 a.m. Dover time. We were blessed to have such a wonderful son and this country a great man. For all of them, past, present and future, honor them and pray for our country.
Thomas M Logan
God bless America, Semper Fi. Corporal Joseph Daniel Logan”
Debi Logan’s letter to President Obama:
“Mr. Obama:
You’ve read my husband’s letter, now you can read mine.
I do not feel the same way my husband feels. I am ANGRY! When complete strangers can express their grief along with ours at the passing of our son, when his commander can call from across the world to express his condolences the next day, and when generals can meet with us in the middle of the night on a cold tarmac when our son is returned home to his country, I am ANGRY when the man who takes credit for what the military does cannot even be bothered to take a few minutes to compose a letter. We received a form letter [not even on letterhead], the exact same letter was sent to all six marines that died in the same helicopter accident. We had to wait four months for you to acknowledge his death with a xeroxed form letter off the back of a UPS truck. It was not an honor to receive your letter and in fact, it smacked of such disrespect that I wish you had not sent it at all.
If the task is a hard one to handle, you can assign one or two of those half million new employees to do it for you. There have been 210 soldiers returned home so far this year. One person could handle the job. Commanders notify someone of the deaths. That could be the [one] person you put in charge and that person could compose a letter [on letterhead] fit for a president to sign. You could even read it and put your signature to it. It wouldn’t have to be a long letter, something you could read in a few minutes. It could be sent through the chain of military command and presented to each soldiers parent, spouse, family member in person with respect and dignity [in a timely manner] as though the lives, and ultimately the deaths, of our young people meant something to you.
We were surprised by the overwhelming outpouring of love that we received from the military, from our county and even our state [Representative Kevin Brady managed to call even though he was going through an episode with his mother].
He found a few minutes to chat and see that we were taken care of. Now I [and other family members] don’t expect the president to call, but a little respect would be happily accepted. Maybe you can try it out for the next soldier that doesn’t make it home.
Deborah Logan
Proud and Loving Mother of a Hero”
Click here to read: Part I
Below are links to articles published by MCPR regarding Joey Logan’s death and the unprecedented show of respect and support in Montgomery County when he arrived home and when his family and friends said goodbye:
https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=39276
https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=39224
https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=39166
https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=39011
https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=38780
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