Story filed 8-27-05

By Ginny LaRoe
Staff Writer

SWEETWATER, Tenn. -- A grieving community gathered at the Tennessee National Guard Armory here Friday evening to pray, sing and remember the loved ones they have lost and those who have been injured while serving in Iraq.

"This means everything to me," said April Thomas, wife of Spc. David Thomas, who was severely injured when a roadside bomb exploded Monday near his vehicle while on patrol near Salah, Ab Bin, Iraq. "Prayers, that is where my strength comes from."

Spc. Thomas is a member of the 278th Regimental Combat Team.

Spc. Thomas suffered wounds to his skull and shrapnel in his neck, Mrs. Thomas said before leaving to prepare to travel to Washington, D.C., to await her husband's arrival.

Sgt. Victor P. Lieurance, 34, of Seymour, Tenn., and Spc. Joseph D. Hunt, 27, of Sweetwater, Tenn., died Monday after the attack, the Guard confirmed Wednesday.

Another Monroe County native, Spc. Andrew Newman, also was injured during the attack and is expected to return stateside this weekend, other family members said at the vigil.

Pastor John Butler of Unity Baptist Church in Madisonville, Tenn., whose son, Staff Sgt. Jeff Butler is also serving in Iraq, closed the vigil with prayer.

"He is grieving for the loss of his friends," his father said.

"It is a sad day, but a really special day," Mr. Butler said to about 200 people who gathered to hold candles during the ceremony.

Many were holding back tears.

"We believe prayer can do anything," Mr. Butler said.

Kaye Butler, the wife of Staff Sgt. Butler, helped organize the vigil.

She said Sgt. Lieurance and Spc. Hunt were "two of the best men (my husband) has ever known."

Mrs. Butler, the president of Sweetwater's Family Readiness Group, said her husband is grieving but is "OK physically" after witnessing the explosion that took the life of his fellow soldiers and friends.

The two fallen soldiers, members of the 3rd Squadron, are the fourth and fifth soldiers of the 278th to die in the last nine days and the eighth and ninth killed since the regiment deployed to Iraq in November.

After the vigil, Andre Lieurance, Sgt. Lieurance's father, said if his son were "here right now" he would be amazed "at the outpouring of support from the community."

Mr. Lieurance, a Navy veteran, said he is angry that his son lost his life for a war that is unjustified.

"We are very pro-military," he said. "I have nothing against the Army, the uniform or the military, but they (the troops) are not getting the support to do their job.

"Don't put another family through this," Mr. Lieurance said.

Spc. Hunt's uncle, Brian Cantrell, of Sweetwater, Tenn., speaking for the family said this isn't a time of politics but rather a time to honor and remember those who have given their lives for their country.

"At this time there are no politics and no sides, and there is no other story," he said. "The individuals who took their lives from us had a plan and think they've succeeded, but all they did was get two more men to heaven a little bit quicker."

The local fire, police and sheriff's department volunteered their time for the vigil, Sweetwater Police Chief Eddie Byrum said.

"We are a very close-knit community here and we want to show our support for the 278th," the chief said.

E-mail Ginny LaRoe at glaroe@timesfreepress.com

On the Web: Photos by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika of the 278th Regimental Combat Team are available on the Times Free Press Web site. Visit http://www.timesfreepress.com/kp.

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