August 22, 2005
Friendly Fire
On March 23, 2003, Corporal Patrick R. Nixon was part of a Marine unit ambushed while trying to secure a bridge in Nasiriyah, Iraq. He rushed to the aid of a fellow Marine, and all Hell broke loose. Originally listed as missing, Cpl. Nixon was confirmed as the first Tennessean killed in the invasion of Iraq on March 30, 2003.
Eight of the Marine deaths that day came from enemy fire. A remaining ten died from wounds that may have been caused by either heavy enemy fire or U.S Air Force aircraft providing close air support, so-called "friendly fire."
Nixon's great-grandfather had served in World War I, his grandfather in World War II, his father in Vietnam, and his brother preceded him in the Marine Corps ten years earlier. Patrick Nixon was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on April 17, 2003 in Section 60, Plot 7865.
Country music singer Trace Atkins sings a song inspired by Cpl. Nixon called "Arlington," (sample):
I never thought that this is where I'd settle down.
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown.
They gave me this plot of land,
Me and some other men, for a job well done.
There's a big White House sits on a hill just up the road.
The man inside, he cried the day they brought me home.
They folded up a flag and told my Mom and Dad:
"We're proud of your son."
And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.
I remember Daddy brought me here when I was eight.
We searched all day to find out where my grand-dad lay.
And when we finally found that cross,
He said: "Son, this is what it cost to keep us free."
Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him.
He recognized me on the first day I came in.
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels,
And saluted me.
And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.
And everytime I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us.
And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done.
We can rest in peace;
'Cause we are the chosen ones:
We made it to Arlington.
Yeah, dust to dust,
Don't cry for us:
We made it to Arlington.
Cpl. Nixon died while trying to save a fellow Marine. If this sounds familiar, it should. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan also died trying to save comrades-in-arms.
Both of these brave men have suffered far too much from friendly fire. At least the fire on Corporal Nixon has stopped, and he has been allowed his eternal rest. Sadly, the assault on Specialist Sheehan continues, somehow both in and against his name.
