Sad story: Man lights himself ablaze after son is killed in service.

[sleuth]

H O L L Y W O O D, Fla., Aug. 26, 2004

Melida Arredondo said her husband, Carlos Arredondo, immediately fell apart when he saw three Marines approaching his home.

"My husband immediately knew that his firstborn son had been killed," Arredondo said on ABC News' Good Morning America. The three Marines showed up at Arredondo's home to inform the family that Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, 20, had died Tuesday in Najaf.

What happened next shocked the Marines and Arredondo's neighbors...

linkage: http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/US/Marine_Father_Fire_040826-1.html

 

[justhangn]

I'm very sorry for the loss of their son, but the father was a coward, he chose death over living for his surviving family.

 

[cattitude]

I saw that on the news this morning. Probably wishes he hadn't done what he did...he acted without thinking I'm sure. Hard to say what any of us would do in that situation. Just tragic. :sad:

 

[joedancer]

he is still alive

I'm very sorry for the loss of their son, but the father was a coward, he chose death over living for his surviving family.

He has burns over 50% of his body and is in stable condition. It is very sad. I don't think he thought about anything but what swallowed up in his own grief at the moment. The kid was only 20 years old and on his second tour of Iraq.