Sadly, a young man who grew up in Havasu gave his life in Iraq this past week. I hope that our city pays proper respect when it comes time for the
funeral etc. This hits close to home. I'll post whatever the public is invited
to. I'd like to go put some flowers at the home of his mother but I don't dare
call the listed phone number to get an address. Here's what is in the paper.
Keith Sayre
On patrol, suicide bomb kills Tinnell
By Sara Bisker
When Patrick Tinnell told his mother he was joining the United States Army, she never thought he'd do it.
“He said he wanted to fight for his country. I didn't believe him, it sounded too cliché. But when he got over there, when he saw the camaraderie and the friendship and how those boys were over there fighting, he wanted to be a part of what those boys were doing. He wanted to serve his country and he was proud of the Army,” Debbie Tinnell said.
When Patrick Tinnell told his mother he was joining the United States Army, she never thought he'd do it.
“He said he wanted to fight for his country. I didn't believe him, it sounded too cliché. But when he got over there, when he saw the camaraderie and the friendship and how those boys were over there fighting, he wanted to be a part of what those boys were doing. He wanted to serve his country and he was proud of the Army,” Debbie Tinnell said.
Pfc. Patrick Allen Tinnell, 25, died at 5:24 a.m. Wednesday when the humvee he was riding in was blown up by a suicide bomber in Siniyah, Iraq. He was positioned as a scout leading a troupe of vehicles when the car bomb detonated. He was the only military personnel killed, according to Tinnell's grandmother, Dorothy “Dottie” Tinnell. The Humvee's driver, L.J. Youngquest was severely injured.
Patrick Tinnell was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky. He joined the Army in September 2005; this was his first tour of Iraq.
“He could have done anything he wanted but he chose infantry,” Debbie Tinnell said. His last assignment was to train the new Iraqi army.
He is the first known Havasuvian to be killed in Iraq. According to the Associated Press, at least 2,383 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.
A mother's soldier
Patrick Tinnell was a dedicated soldier. He will be awarded posthumously with a Bronze Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart, according to his mother.
When Debbie Tinnell spoke with her son's squad leader, she was told, “You should be proud of your son. He gave his life for all. Because he was the first truck that took the impact of the bomber, he saved the lives of all of us.”
“He would like us to celebrate his life. I want to tell his story,” she said. “When we sent him off to go to war, we partied with him and he would like us to party with him now.”
He graduated from Lake Havasu High School in 2000. In the period between graduating and joining the Army he worked for a Havasu pest control company and also as a BMX rider for MBK Bikes.
“His bike was like his purse. He had to take it everywhere with him. BMX riding was his sport,” Debbie Tinnell said.
He would volunteer his time at Teen Break, a Park and Rec alternative for spring break students.
“He was a great kid. We were proud of him. He set a good example,” said Donna Carlton, recreation management specialist for Parks and Rec.
He was the first person to jump his bike over an elephant during Teen Break 1999.
“The kids still remember. Those kids who weren't even at Teen Break had heard of it. They were the boys all the kids wanted to be,” she said.
Debbie Tinnell said her son would be remembered most for his meticulously clean habits and also as a comedian.
“I purposefully sat him next to my desk because he would come to class and entertain me. He was always out for the comedic edge,” said Tania Gray, Patrick Tinnell's senior English teacher at LHHS.
“He was one of those types of kids who had a jokey front but his journal questions were heartfelt and loving for his girlfriend. I was surprised by the real feelings he expressed compared to the outward jokey appearance he gave off,” she said.
His cleanliness - to the point where he would use a toothbrush and Windex to clean his tennis shoes on a daily basis - earned him a “neat freak” reputation in Iraq.
“He was a whiner. He was critical. They teased him in Iraq for sweeping all the time. He would say, ‘When I come home, I'll show you girls how to clean,'” Debbie Tinnell said.
Patrick Tinnell was an anchor for his mother. She said in every letter he wrote home and in every phone call she received, he ended conversations with “I love you” and never stopped providing for her.
“Pat acted like he was distant, but he loved me. I know in my heart he loved me the most. He was my anchor,” Debbie Tinnell said. “He had a different way with me. He told me every day he loved me and he's not like that - he's very private.
“It was a catch 22. Even if it was him who caused my grief, I could turn to him for support. He would make me laugh. I always knew in my heart and soul he would take care of me, even if he didn't have two nickels to rub together,” she said.
He is survived by his parents, mother Debbie Tinnell and father James Tinnell Jr.; brother Phillip Tinnell, grandmother, aunts and uncles Brian and Donna O'Conner and Susan and Tom Rawlinson, many cousins and his adoptive family, the Manlay's.
The family expects Patrick Tinnell's body to return to the United States within the next two weeks. Funeral services are pending.
You may contact the reporter at bisker@havasunews.com.
:frown: :frown: Godspeed to his family. Their pain is felt by all and their sons sacrifice will never be forgotten. He joins a long legacy of warriors that keep us safe and make this country the strongest and proudest. Kids like him make my chest swell with pride and make the words, "I'm proud to be an American." boom even louder across the skies.
I wish I could get an address. I'm feeling helpless and there's a mom out there who I hope is feeling the love of her fellow countrymen. I can't even
imagine what goes through a parents mind right now.
Keith Sayre
My condolenances to the Family. Godspeed Patrick. You'll never be forgotten...
I wish I could put into words, the feelings I have for all of our fallen troops. Patrick Tinnel, those before him and those that will make the ultimate sacrifice for all FREE AMERICANS will NEVER be forgotten by me or ANY of my family members..........
Prayers for Patrick, and....... THANK YOU, you are loved by all in this great nation....
I can't even imagine what goes through a parents mind right now. Keith Sayre
Yeah, I hope my kids go into the military but I hope i never have to find out how that feels.
i don't want to flood the reporter with emails, so i was wondering if anyone from here has contacted him to see if he would be able to give out the address of the family?
God Bless the Tinnell Family.
That was a touching story. Even as perfect strangers I am saddened by our fallen soldier's passing.
Prayers from the Lue family.
Saturday afternoon I get the address. thanks to an anonymous LE friend.I go buy some flowers, Candy here at work writes up a card/note to Debbie the mom and I drive up to the house. I'm fine until I see about 20 cars out
front and a small note on the front door, saying- walk in-- so I do, everyone
in the room is fine, noone is crying, except I lose it. I handed mom the flowers and the note, tell her "god bless you" and tell her I have to go.
I bolt for the door, and his aunt chases me down to make sure that I was
OK and that was really the killer. I turned into total blubber. You see, I
believe in another life after this one, I am of Christian beliefs so I don't really
mourn for the young man although I recognize that he got ripped off in alot
of ways but I feel for the mom who will most likely be agonizing inside for
the next several months or years or who can say how long? That's where
my pain comes from. Nice lady by the way.
For those wanting to send flowers, her address is 3565 North Palo Verde.
Keith Sayre
Thanks for taking the time to do that. I am sure it was appreciated by the family.
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