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Morning Star
CPTnet
13 March 2006
IRAQ: Tom's Last Journey Begins
by Doug Pritchard
Our brother Tom has begun his final journey home.
He left Anaconda military base at Balat, Iraq, at dawn on Mar. 13 (9 p.m. EST, Mar. 12), and is expected to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware at 1 a.m. EST, Mar. 14.
CPT Toronto was originally informed by Canadian authorities at 1:30 p.m. EST Mar. 10, that a body had been found in Baghdad which was likely that of Tom Fox. An hour later, when the CPT Iraq team asked officials at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad if they could come to identify the body, they were told that it had already left on a military transport for Dover. Officials had repeatedly assured the team over the previous three months that CPT would be able to accompany our colleagues home "if at all possible." They now said that their only focus was getting the body back to the USA as soon as possible. At 8 p.m. EST, the U.S. State Dept. confirmed the identity as Tom Fox based on fingerprints.
The next day, Mar. 11, at 10 a.m. EST, CPT Iraq learned that Tom's body was still at the Anaconda base at Balat. The U.S. Embassy arranged for Beth Pyles, a member of the CPT Iraq team, to travel to Anaconda, and she was able to keep vigil with Tom for the next 36 hrs. until his departure. Meanwhile, CPTers Rich Meyer and Anne Montgomery travelled to Dover, and have been in the vicinity since 5 p.m. Mar. 11, keeping vigil and awaiting Tom's arrival.
Pyles was present on the tarmac at Anaconda as Tom's coffin was loaded onto the plane for Dover. She reported that his coffin was draped in a U.S. flag. This is unusual for a civilian, but Tom may not have been uncomfortable with this since he had always called his nation to live out the high ideals which it professed. Iraqi detainees who die in U.S, custody are also transported to Dover for autopsies and forensics. On this plane, right beside Tom's coffin, was the coffin of an Iraqi detainee. So Tom accompanied an Iraqi detainee in death, just as he had done so often in life.
At Tom's departure, Pyles read out from the Gospel of John, "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it" (1:5). In honour of Tom's Iraqi companion, she spoke the words called out repeatedly from the mosques of Baghdad during the Shock and Awe bombing campaign in March 2003, "allah akhbar" (God is greater). She concluded the sending with words from the Jewish scriptures, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).
Dawn broke. The contingent of Puerto Rican soldiers nearby saluted. The plane taxied away. Venus, the morning star, shone brightly overhead as the night faded away.
Godspeed you, Tom, on your final journey home to your family and friends.
13 March 2006
IRAQ: Tom's Last Journey Begins
by Doug Pritchard
Our brother Tom has begun his final journey home.
He left Anaconda military base at Balat, Iraq, at dawn on Mar. 13 (9 p.m. EST, Mar. 12), and is expected to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware at 1 a.m. EST, Mar. 14.
CPT Toronto was originally informed by Canadian authorities at 1:30 p.m. EST Mar. 10, that a body had been found in Baghdad which was likely that of Tom Fox. An hour later, when the CPT Iraq team asked officials at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad if they could come to identify the body, they were told that it had already left on a military transport for Dover. Officials had repeatedly assured the team over the previous three months that CPT would be able to accompany our colleagues home "if at all possible." They now said that their only focus was getting the body back to the USA as soon as possible. At 8 p.m. EST, the U.S. State Dept. confirmed the identity as Tom Fox based on fingerprints.
The next day, Mar. 11, at 10 a.m. EST, CPT Iraq learned that Tom's body was still at the Anaconda base at Balat. The U.S. Embassy arranged for Beth Pyles, a member of the CPT Iraq team, to travel to Anaconda, and she was able to keep vigil with Tom for the next 36 hrs. until his departure. Meanwhile, CPTers Rich Meyer and Anne Montgomery travelled to Dover, and have been in the vicinity since 5 p.m. Mar. 11, keeping vigil and awaiting Tom's arrival.
Pyles was present on the tarmac at Anaconda as Tom's coffin was loaded onto the plane for Dover. She reported that his coffin was draped in a U.S. flag. This is unusual for a civilian, but Tom may not have been uncomfortable with this since he had always called his nation to live out the high ideals which it professed. Iraqi detainees who die in U.S, custody are also transported to Dover for autopsies and forensics. On this plane, right beside Tom's coffin, was the coffin of an Iraqi detainee. So Tom accompanied an Iraqi detainee in death, just as he had done so often in life.
At Tom's departure, Pyles read out from the Gospel of John, "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it" (1:5). In honour of Tom's Iraqi companion, she spoke the words called out repeatedly from the mosques of Baghdad during the Shock and Awe bombing campaign in March 2003, "allah akhbar" (God is greater). She concluded the sending with words from the Jewish scriptures, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).
Dawn broke. The contingent of Puerto Rican soldiers nearby saluted. The plane taxied away. Venus, the morning star, shone brightly overhead as the night faded away.
Godspeed you, Tom, on your final journey home to your family and friends.
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12 March 2006
Another Fallen Friend and Martyr
The death of Tom Fox and a true test of solidarity
By Joe Carr
I first met Tom Fox in Chicago at a Christian Peacemaker Teams’
training and we became good friends through our work together. He was a
father with children about my age, and was like an uncle to me.
He was my team’s coordinator during my month in Iraq. Shaggy, a young
Iraqi friend and translator, nicknamed him “Uncle Tom” because of his
paternal but playful manner. He provided a calm and steady presence, and
an open and compassionate ear. His warmth and humor helped me to hang on
through my depressing and fearful time in Iraq.
I remember the comforting sound of Tom’s recorder, which he played in
place of his clarinet. I will miss the mornings when he led worship, often
in the silent Quaker tradition.
Tom was truly committed to maintaining an international presence in Iraq
despite the danger. He understood the privilege we have in being able to
choose whether or not we face violence, a choice denied to Iraqis,
Palestinians, and poor people of color around the world. His commitment to
solidarity led him to Iraq, to share in some of that risk.
Dozens of Iraqi bodies show up in Baghdad each week. Many are killed
by US-sponsored death squads, trained to use brutal counter-insurgency
tactics against militants and civilians alike. In the chaos of occupied
Iraq, thousands of Iraqis have been kidnapped for profit. But we only
hear about it when it happens to internationals.
I was standing with 23-year-old American activist Rachel Corrie when an
Israeli soldier intentionally drove over and crushed her to death with a
US-made Caterpillar bulldozer. A month later, I was with 22-year-old
British activist Tom Hurndall, helping to move Palestinian children out of
the line of Israeli sniper fire when that sniper purposefully shot Tom in
the head.
The three-year anniversary of Rachel’s murder is March 16, next Thursday,
and activists around the world will host events to commemorate her life
and sacrifice. But we will also commemorate the thousands of Palestinians
who’ve given their lives to the struggle, over 3,500 since September,
2000.
Activists are also gearing up for demonstrations next weekend to mark the
three-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. As we mourn for Tom Fox, let
us remember the 100,000-250,000 Iraqis murdered by US occupation forces,
and the 15,000-17,000 Iraqi hostages, held without charge in US and Iraqi
detention facilities.
The loss of my comrades hurts very much, and it scares me to be so close
to our few western martyrs. But my pain and fear only deepens my sense of
solidarity and determination to continue their legacy of struggle.
Iraqis, Palestinians, and oppressed people everywhere are fighting and
dying for freedom, and it’s long passed time for Americans to join
them. We must take risks and be willing to sacrifice some of our
privilege; a privilege built on the backs of millions. We must remain
focused on the true source of this violence and suffering, US-led
capitalist imperialism.
Let us grieve for our loss, together with families everywhere who’s loved
ones have fallen. Let us also continue the legacy of Tom Fox, Tom
Hurndall, and Rachel Corrie, to build a global solidarity movement for
peace, justice, and freedom.
Let us see to it they do not die in vain.