They All Have Names
This is a story written by my higher command about They Have Names. I’ve edited out some identifying data that I don’t want some of the psychos that lurk here to know about me and Sue. The story was written by Tina Miles, PAO for my unit.
THEY ALL HAVE NAMES
To date well over 4,000 service members have been killed in Iraq, and they are not just statistics. They have families, friends and they had lives; and one Soldier is doing his darnedest to ensure they are each remembered – not just as a number, but as a person.1st Sgt. Christopher J. Grisham, Bravo Company, (complete unit designation and location deleted for OPSEC), has been maintaining a website called They Have Names, to honor Soldiers and memorialize friends lost in Iraq. In his website he does not focus on his fallen comrades’ deaths, but rather their lives and dreams. He turns each number into a name with photos and stories from families, friends, coworkers and anyone else who knew that specific Soldier.
Grisham began his quest two years ago when May 30, 2006, he opened the newspaper and read about the tragic deaths of two CBS journalists killed in Iraq and one reporter that was seriously injured. Practically every media outlet carried the same story, in the same manner: the names of the journalists and reporter were published or broadcast and extensive biographies were given, and each story ended with, “and one American Soldier was also killed.”
From CNN, to MSNBC, to the Washington Post and New York Times, even across the globe to the China Daily newspaper, stories of bravery and heroism of the journalists were told…and each ended with a similar, simple mention of “another U.S. Soldier.”
Grisham decided then and there to make it his personal mission to find out the name of this Soldier and
everything about him. The particular Soldier who was killed May 29, 2006, alongside of the journalists was Capt. James Alex Funkhouser.Funkhouser’s history was the first of many posted in Grisham’s website dedicated to the memory of Soldiers killed in action. He begins with, “CPT James A. Funkhouser Jr., affectionately known as Alex, was named after his father, James A. Funkhouser Sr., a 31 year retired Army veteran. He was born in Okinawa, Japan, while his parents were stationed there. Growing up he was an active child. His father is quick to point out that he “liked doing things.” He read a lot and was just a normal boy. Between the ages of two and twelve, he lived in California. Then they moved to Texas where Alex fell in love with the state and made it his home.” And the life of Funkhouser is continued with photos and memories from loved ones.
Grisham’s quest is not an easy one, he said, “I cannot and don’t do this by myself.” Each story takes approximately a month to do, he added, “I’ve enlisted a few fellow writers and researchers.” Everything is strictly volunteer, “No one gets paid for any of this.” Among those volunteers are Sue, researcher and friend, and John Pieslak, writer. Grisham added, “Sue keeps me motivated, she is the consummate Soldier supporter.” When she first found out about Grisham’s intentions she begged to be included, Grisham said, “She is the workhorse behind the project.”
[Sue] said, “This is his [Grisham’s] baby and we all work to round out his efforts.” [She] takes the project very personally, “It is the most amazing thing that I have ever had the privilege to have worked on.” She added, “At They Have Names, we take painstaking care to make sure that our heroes are much more than a number. We celebrate the life they lived and the person that they were through the eyes of those who knew them best.” The website reminds you that each hero was a father or mother, a son or a daughter, a husband or wife, some one’s best friend, pride and joy, or some one’s everything. They lived ordinary lives, extraordinarily. Giving of themselves for people they would never know. [Sue] said the site also gives them the voice they may not have had otherwise and added, “It is with pride and honor that each of us who works on it humbly offers their stories.”
Grisham’s website is going strong, but still has a long way to go as he is determined to tell each individual’s story. The site focuses not on the death of the service member, but rather on their lives. Each story is based on personal interviews and each story is approved by a family member prior to posting.
“Currently we are writing about those who lost their lives in this war, but ideally I’d like to eventually include any fallen service member,” Grisham said, as his own family history includes various military backgrounds and battles. He entered the Active Duty Army in 1995, his father, James A. Stuthers, Jr., is a retired Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam war (though never saw combat contrary to his best efforts to get in the fight), and his grandfather, James A. Stuthers, was a member of the Army Air Corp in WWII.
In addition to posting their biographies, Grisham gives each Soldier’s family a memorial coin that bears a folded flag on the front, as a small token of his gratitude and remembrance for that individual.
Editor’s note:
The actual website is: http://www.theyhavenames.com
Grisham would also like to enlist others in his cause. If anyone is interested in interviewing family members and writing about these fallen heroes, he could use the help. No website experience is necessary, Grisham does the website work. The only requirements are to understand the delicacy respect inherent in speaking with these grieving families, leave politics out of the stories, and be able to tell a good story. Anyone interested can contact Grisham for more specific details and other information on how they can help. They can email him at: cj[at]theyhavenames[dot]com. All interviews are pre-arranged for by Grisham so no one needs to make any awkward, unexpected phone calls. Additionally, no one involved gets paid, so it would be on a voluntary basis.
