Soldier ended his life rather than live incapacitated

[American Patriot]

Soldier ended his life rather than live incapacitated
KATU.com ^ | September 21, 2007 | Associated press

DAMASCUS, Ore. (AP) - Family and friends got to hear Army. Capt. Drew Jensen's voice one last time.

Jensen, 27, died from combat wounds this month after he decided to be removed from life support at the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle. But before his death, he recorded a message for those who would attend his memorial service.

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"Family, friends and acquaintances, thank you for your support," the audio recording began, a ventilator audible in the background. "Understand that I will miss all of you and, to those who don't fully understand, I apologize."

Jensen said he made the choice following lengthy conversations with family, and he hoped people would react without bitterness toward the Army or the Iraq war.

"The Army was the profession I chose, that gave me more than I could have ever asked for," he said. To those who served beside him in Iraq, Jensen said: "Even death cannot break the bonds that we had and the times that we have shared."

A sniper shot Jensen in May, paralyzing him from the neck down.

Jensen, the 98th soldier with strong Oregon ties to die in the wars of the Middle East, graduated from Gresham's Sam Barlow High School in 1998 and from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002. He married Stacia Marie Melton one year before he was wounded.

More than 300 people gathered at Christ the Vine Lutheran Church in Damascus on Thursday. Mourners laughed and cried as Jensen's friends shared memories, from close calls during the war to his of singing along with country songs, replacing each "you" with "Drew."

They also recalled Jensen's first words after the shot that paralyzed him, uttered when doctors installed a valve that allowed him to speak: "Thank you all for helping me."

After the church service, a caravan of limousines traveled from Damascus to the Willamette National Cemetery, where Jensen was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

[Brian Baldwin]

Which of us can judge? I would have picked the same path personally except I have children I believe I can impart a message of proper morals and respect too. Barring that I'd want my young wife to have a husband that could hold her in his arms. My wife disagrees with this. My quiet religious/spiritual beliefs are my own but I'll say this... In my beliefs he died well enough.

We'll miss you Capt. Drew Jensen. You were a true patriot and lived an example too few looked at. We here at TAA though appreciate the sacrifices you made. God's speed and grace for you.

[American Patriot]

I'm sorry they couldn't help him more. My friend and partner here at work was injured a couple of years back, severely and was paralyzed from the neck down as well. He has recovered considerably, and is walking with and without a cane, still has a lot of non-feeling problems with his hands and arms and legs, but he is back.

[Ryan Ruck]

It truely is tragic that he decided to take this path.

Certainly in light of, as Rick points out, how much we've advanced in this field and are certain to advance further in the future.