THERE is irony in the fact that the military experiences of JasonTharp and Jessica Lynch began for essentially the same reasons.
Patriotism - an elusive quality - aside, both joined the militaryto get ahead in this world.
Jessica, a native of Wirt County, joined the Army so she could getmoney to go to college and eventually become a schoolteacher. Jason,a Braxton County native, joined the Marines to get money to study artin college.
The West Virginia natives are like thousands of other young WestVirginians who saw military service as a way out of the poverty thatheld them down. Both had dreams of being winners instead of losers.
But their lives took different paths. Jessica became a heroine ofsorts when she became one of the first prisoners of war to be freedin the Iraqi war. Her story went on to earn her public acclaim.
She wrote a book about her experience of being wounded andimprisoned by the enemy. She was the subject of a made-for-TV movieand she continues to make public appearances and receive acclaim.
Jason is dead, a victim of a series of nightmarish events duringhis training at Parris Island, S.C. In letters he wrote to hisparents, he said he wanted out, that the training was too much forhim. He reported that he was sick, coughing up blood, and feared hewould get pneumonia. He couldn't do the required number of sit-upsand pull-ups.
Six days after the last letter to his parents, Jason drownedduring water training. Prior to his death, a TV camera crew workingon an assignment at Parris Island taped a drill instructor hittingJason in the chest, apparently after Jason refused to get in thewater.
A senior drill instructor and five other Marine personnel havebeen suspended pending several investigations into Jason's death.
A scholarship fund established in Jason's name would provide moneyto needy students who want to attend college. It was reported thatJessica's publicist contacted the Braxton County Board of Educationto find out how to donate to the fund.
We may eventually learn the circumstances of Jason's death in apool at Parris Island. But there will still be unanswered questions.
Why did Jason choose the Marines, the branch with the most arduoustraining? Was he told how difficult it might be and what would beinvolved in the training?
Once there and once he decided he couldn't take the training, washis request to end the torture taken seriously? If so, did theMarines act quickly enough?
In the last letter to his parents, Jason said the money forcollege didn't matter any more. He wanted out.
"If you can get me out, I will be forever grateful," he said.
Whatever the outcome of the investigations, we know the outcome ofJason's experience. And frankly, it points out the desperation thatsome West Virginia youngsters feel and what they will do to breaktheir chains of poverty.
No matter what you think of Jason, the ultimate moral of this sadstory is clear. We need to offer West Virginia kids more alternativesthan they currently have.
In some cases, providing them choices could be lifesaving.
Writer Peyton can be reached at davepeyton@davepeyton.com.
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