Lt Ken Ballard, my hero!

http://sfgate.com/nextofkin/ 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard Ballard, 26, of Mountain View, died May 30 in Najaf, Iraq, during a firefight with insurgents. He was assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, from Friedberg, Germany. "There is nothing anyone can do to ease the pain. The one thing that has given me comfort is knowing that people are grateful for the brave and valiant sacrifice Lt. Kenneth M. Ballard, my only son, made for our country." Tom Ballard, father Ballard believes it was the right decision to invade Iraq, because of that nation's past use of weapons of mass destruction and other atrocities against its own people. A Bush supporter, he also says that war protesters have the right to express their views freely. Karen Meredith, mother Meredith does not believe invading Iraq was the right decision and says it was not a necessary part of the war on terror, which she calls an excuse for the invasion. Nevertheless, she says the troops there, and more, should stay until there is more stability. She supports John Kerry for president.