Feature: U.S. anti-war father in New York to remind people human cost of conflict

The father of a U.S. marine killed in Iraq drove his pickup carrying the coffin of his son into Times Square in New York on Thursday, continuing his nearly two-year-old campaign against the conflict in the Middle East nation and reminding people of the human cost of war.

"Iraq escalation? Wrong direction," read a sign which Carlos Arredondo erected by the side of his car, referring to U.S. President George W. Bush's recent plan to send 21,000 extra troops to war-torn Baghdad.

Arredondo's son, Lance Corporal Alexander S. Arredondo, 20, was killed in Najaf on Aug. 25 2004 in a hail of gunfire after being trapped in a four-story hotel that his platoon had been clearing. They were surrounded by enemy fighters. It was his son's second tour of duty in Iraq.

For Carlos Arredondo the agony began on Aug. 25, 2004 -- his 44th birthday. A government van eased in front of his home, which was then in Hollywood, Florida, and three Marine officers in dress blues stepped out.

At first Mr. Arredondo thought it was his son making a surprise birthday visit. Instead, the officers told him that his son had been killed in action.

"I just screamed," he said. "I said no, no! It can't be my son."

Mr. Arredondo said he then ran to his garage and grabbed a gallon of gasoline and a propane torch. He took a sledgehammer and smashed the government van's windshield and hopped inside. As the officers tried to calm him, Mr. Arredondo doused himself and the van with gasoline and lit the torch.

There was an explosion, and the officers dragged Mr Arredondo to safety. He suffered second- and third-degree burns over 20 percent of his body.

"I went to my son's funeral on a stretcher," he said.

After nearly 10 months of healing, including several in hospital, Mr. Arredondo became a full-time war protester, quitting work as a handyman, and started traveling the country putting his sorrow on display.

He joined war protester Cindy Sheehan, who also lost her son in Iraq, on a national speaking tour in mid-2005. Late last year he began his own campaign, transforming his pickup truck into a symbol of what he calls an immoral war.

The flag-strapped coffin he takes with him holds some of his son's things: a soccer ball, a pair of his favorite shoes, a Winnie the Pooh. He also shows people his son's boots, uniform and dog tags.

Each side of the green Nissan pickup is adorned with enlarged photos of the young marine.

"My son will be proud of me," he told Xinhua. "I don't want to leave him alone. I will never let his death be forgotten. As long as there are marines fighting and dying in Iraq, I'm going to share my mourning with the American people."

He showed Xinhua one of his late son's letters from Iraq.

"Mom and Dad, today is Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003. I've been out at sea for three days now and I'm starting to feel better. The first two days I was completely sick from seasickness and some virus. Tomorrow is one of my many many training days on ship to prepare me for my mission. I will also be training a short time in Kuwait."

"In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on my way to experience first hand what I am learning about, I am not afraid of dying. I am more afraid of what will happen to all the ones that I love if something happens to me. Soon enough I will be in the desert, outside the city of Baghdad in full combat gear, ready to carry out my mission, wondering how this all happened so fast, wishing I was back home going to school, dating Sheila, taking care of my family," the letter said.

"I'm still proud to be fighting for my country. I feel like, if I am not helping one way I should still do all that I can to help."

Alexander Scott Arredondo, who started basic military training in 2002, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from January to August 2003, and June to August 2004. He was the 968th U.S. military fatality in Iraq.

Still gripped by pain, Carlos Arredondo, a Costa Rican immigrant, said he would head for Washington, D.C. and Seattle next week.

"It is my promise to my son. I will keep it."

Thanks to the generosity of strangers and well-wishers, Carlos and his wife, Melida Arredondo, have visited major cities throughout the East Coast and throughout Southern and Central California.

Source: Xinhua