A soldier's idealism sent him back to the fight

"My son was frustrated with going over for a fourth time," said Mann. "But even though he thought much of the war was being fought over money, he believed he could still go over there and straighten out some of the bad parts."

A soldier's idealism sent him back to the fight

By HALLE STOCKTON


Published: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
BRADENTON -
Army Sgt. William E. Hasenflu felt he could make a difference as a soldier.

That idealism, his mother said, was a major reason Hasenflu enlisted in the Army after a career in the Navy.

Hasenflu, whose mother lives in Bradenton and his father in Sarasota, was in his fourth tour in Afghanistan when he was killed in action Sunday, officials said.

Hasenflu was due back in Fort Campbell, Ky., on Oct. 15, where he would have been reunited with his wife of 17 years and their three daughters, said his mother, Jane Mann.

Hasenflu, who lived in Bradenton for many years before moving to Kentucky, was killed in an ambush on his unit in the Jaji District Center in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense reported. He would have turned 39 on Monday.

The decorated career military man was fatally wounded by small arms fire as he was taking detainees into custody, according to an Army statement.
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They believe in something much bigger than the politicians who send them into combat. They believe in serving and doing some good. How they are used and what reason they are sent, is never up to them. They get to only decide if they are willing to risk their lives for the sake of their country, yet men and women like

Sgt. Hasenflu are included in when people like Bush say they are unpatriotic because they speak their minds. Imagine how he felt to hear his Commander-in-Chief utter those words all these years while Hasenflu was serving his country. This is something politicians never seem to think about. The men and women in the military are a reflection of the nation and as such have differing views but despite them, they all serve the same nation and each other. No matter how he felt, he died on his fourth tour of duty. Remember him the next time you are tempted to follow what politicians have to say about those who do not support what politicians decide to do. kc