AMAZON

Friday, November 13, 2009

A Very Small World: SSG Amy S. Krueger in Memorium

Earlier this afternoon I learned that SSG Amy S. Krueger was the great-niece of United Church of Christ pastor, the Rev. John Krueger. I did not personally know Amy, but I did know the Rev. Krueger as a colleague and friend. Amy was one of the thirteen killed at the Fort Hood massacre. I have searched the Internet for a biography of her. This is the best I can find:
Sgt. Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis., joined the Army after the 2001 terrorist attacks and had vowed to take on Osama bin Laden, her mother, Jeri Krueger said.
Sgt. Krueger arrived at Fort Hood on Tuesday and was scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan in December, the mother told the Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc. Ms. Krueger recalled telling her daughter that she could not take on bin Laden by herself. “Watch me,” her daughter replied.
Kiel High School Principal Dario Talerico said that Sgt. Krueger graduated from the school in 1998 and had spoken at least once to local elementary school students about her career. “I just remember that Amy was a very good kid, who like most kids in a small town are just looking for what their next step in life was going to be and she chose the military,” Talerico said. “Once she got into the military, she really connected with that kind of lifestyle and was really proud to serve her country.”
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Amy Krueger. Acknowledge, we humbly pray, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, and a daughter of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the company of the saints of light. Amen

~ United Church of Christ Book of Worship © 2005






30 comments:

  1. Nick,this is a great posting and a powerful one as well.

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  2. In all the noise surrounding an event like this one, the personal dimension of tragedy soon gets lost. This makes it personal--and poignant. Thanks for posting, Nick!

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  3. My heart has been heavy for the families of those killed in this tragedy. Thank you for posting this.

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  4. Nick, I join the others in thanking you for this poignant post.

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  5. I'm so sorry for all of the lost lives. But this is particular poignant since you have a personal connection.

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  6. I remember John Krueger. I did not know one of the killed was his grand-niece. Thanks, Nick, for bringing this to my attention.

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  7. Such a sad loss for everyone involved. :(

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  8. Unfortunately, to some it is just a number. 13 dead. But to those families, it will never be the same with their loved ones gone in such a tragedy.
    Thanks for putting Terry Kelly's song on again for us.
    Peace and rub ole Alex's tummy for me.

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  9. Such a beautiful young woman! I feel sad when I think of so many lives cut short by violence.

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  10. It's such a waste of a young life which makes it doubly sad. I feel for the families of those killed at Fort Hood...obviously a well planned massacre.

    No one is really safe any more, are they?

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  11. Yes, such a waste. 13 lives destroyed.

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  12. It is horrible enough when troop are killed and wounded by the enemy. When murdered by one of their own who is an officer it is much worse.

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  13. I hope that your friend's family finds peace as they face the loss of someone they loved.

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  14. Mike G.: Thank you, Mike. I appreciate your words.

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  15. Peter at Large.: You're welcome, Peter. I agree. When I learned that I had even this very distant connection to one of the victims, my sense of grief changed immensely.

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  16. Anndi: You are most welcome. I found that as I realized I had a connection to Amy, I also had a closer connection to all of the victims and their families.

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  17. Angus: You are most welcome, my friend.

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  18. Ex-Louisville Guy: The information came to me from the Indiana-Kentucky Conference central office.

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  19. Akelamalu : Yes. very sad. And, such a terrible end of so many lives.

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  20. Lady Di Tn: You are so right. It is very easy for us to look at the numbers of dead and wounded and overlook that each one represents a human being and the grief and pain of his/her family and friends.

    The 6 million Jews murdered by Nazi genocide was a horrible number to me for many years. When I discovered that my relatives were included in that 6 million, my grief and anger became personal--very personal.

    I shall certainly give Mr. A. a tummy rub when he awakens from his morning cat nap.

    Each time I listen/watch Terry Kelly's video, I feel moved by my thoughts of those who have risked and sacrificed so much. It is a very powerful song.

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  21. Puss-in-Boots : I agree. Yes, doubly sad. I often wonder why there are so many crazy people in this world who want to destroy the lives of others.

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  22. Candi: Yes, 13 lives + the wounded + their families + their comrades + their friends. That is certainly a lot of people.

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  23. Gunny: I agree. And he was not only an officer, but a medical officer and a psychiatrist.

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  24. Carol: Thank, you. I understand that there was a memorial service for Amy last weekend. My clergy comrade, her great uncle, and his wife are deceased, so they were spared the grief of Amy's tragic death. That isn't true for her and the others' families, friends, and comrades.

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  25. I keep getting Japanese porn ads as comments to this post. That is bad, but to have them on a post dedicated to the memory of a fine young woman who died much too soon is horrendous. I have just deleted 4 of the ads and shall continue to do so.

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