An American Story

There are lots of excellent bloggers; Matt Welch is one.
Today he profiles Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, who was born in Guatemala, but by age 16 had made his way to the United States, riding at least 14 trains to get here. Like so many others, “Gutierrez’s past was eclipsed by his new life as an American.” He wanted to be an architect; friends described him as quiet and extremely intelligent. He joined the Marines. A friend said that Gutierrez “wanted to give the United States what the United States gave to him. He came with nothing. This country gave him everything.” He was, really, a typical resident of Los Angeles. Gutierrez died in battle Friday at Umm al Qasr, the first American to be killed in the war.

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