Marine's father says, "Thanks, Alaska"

Posted by editorial_views

Posted: October 17, 2008 - 1:25 pm

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We received this heartfelt thanks from Kevin Karella, father of U.S. Marine Jason Karella, who died serving in Afghanistan. A shorter version of this will appear in print this weekend.
- Matt Zencey, editorial page editor

Dear Editor,

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the friends, the Anchorage community, the State of Alaska and the U.S. Marines in Alaska for the outpouring of condolences, encouragement, sorrow and immeasurable assistance of every kind since we learned that my son, Marine Corporal Jason Karella was killed in action on October 8th 2008 in Afghanistan.

His Mother, Anne Marie Kitchens, her husband Bill, brothers Josh and Jesse, grandparents, Bob and Barbara, Jason's Fiancé, Beth Ureta, and the entire huge combined family of Kitchens and Karellas convey their heartfelt thanks as well.

Anne was so proud of her son being a Marine that there is scarcely any room left on her car that doesn't say something about being a Marine Mom or the proud Mother of a Marine. In fact much of Anne's wardrobe is made up of Marine T-shirts and her office at the FAA is filled with photographs of Jason ranging from a wonderful photo of a beaming Jason holding the hand of a young Afghan boy to that of Jason riding a camel with full combat gear. She was very proud of him and her pride in him and the Marine Corps is unwavering even today.

The Alaska Marines who had the heart rending task of notifying us all of Jason's death delivered their terrible news with honor and dignity but with no hint of "canned or plastic" display of duty. Gunnery Sergeant Miller was professional yet heartfelt at every turn and every detail. The Marines sent a Team to Fairbanks to notify me, a team to Anchorage to notify Anne and a team to 29 Palms, California to notify his Fiancé, Beth, so that the whole family would be notified at the same time down to the minute.

When the Marines brought our son home to Anchorage, he arrived on a jet with a Marine Corporal escorting him all the way from Dover. When the jet arrived with its special cargo, the Alaska Marines Honor Guard, the police, the airport Fire department, and even what seemed to be the entire FAA was there to greet him with us and to honor his final homecoming. Finally, his remains were escorted by police to the funeral home. When I personally thanked Gunnery Sergeant Miller for a terribly difficult job well done, he said it was the greatest job he'd ever had in his career having the honor of honoring his fallen Marines. Semper Fi Gunny!

We want to thank Gov. Sarah Palin and the Great State of Alaska for honoring one of Alaska's own son's by ordering the Flags to half mast on Saturday for his funeral.

I also want to thank Jerry Sadler at Airport Equipment Rental who made vehicles available to us and to Era Aviation who had no seats available last Thursday but due to the circumstances asked two other passengers if they would give up their seats for my wife and I and they gladly did. There are many more great people who have helped in so many ways.Thank you.

I want everyone to know that Jason was a proud Marine, he loved his country and believed in what he was doing for his country and for the people of Iraq during his first combat tour and later in Afghanistan for his second tour. Our oldest son Josh was severely wounded in Iraq and Jason still joined the Marines knowing almost without a doubt that he would go to Iraq as well. He told us of countless events that, in his words," made it worth it" like saving lives, of finding huge amounts of raw heroin and destroying it and of finding vehicle born IEDs before they had a chance to blow up killing unknown numbers of innocent people.

In one telephone conversation when he was in Iraq, he said "Dad, I don't have to worry about Beth being blown up in a market back at home because we are keeping them real busy over here". He believed that by being a Marine and being in harm's way kept all of us here at home much safer than if we as a country did nothing. He was, however, ready to come home, get married and start having kids, our grandkids. He made the ultimate sacrifice for us all and it is truly obvious that we do live in a grateful nation, a grateful state and a grateful community.

May God bless all of our sons and daughters still in harm's way.

Sincerely,

Kevin Neil Karella
Marine Dad, Fairbanks, Alaska

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