This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6963267.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
US 'sole survivor' to leave Iraq | US 'sole survivor' to leave Iraq |
(30 minutes later) | |
A US soldier is to return home from Iraq under a military proviso known as the "sole survivor" rule after losing both of his brothers in the war. | A US soldier is to return home from Iraq under a military proviso known as the "sole survivor" rule after losing both of his brothers in the war. |
Jason Hubbard, 33, will be re-united with his family in Clovis, California after his brother Nathan, 21, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Wednesday. | Jason Hubbard, 33, will be re-united with his family in Clovis, California after his brother Nathan, 21, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Wednesday. |
His other sibling Jared Hubbard was killed by a roadside bomb in 2004. | His other sibling Jared Hubbard was killed by a roadside bomb in 2004. |
The "sole survivor" policy, which has allowed Jason to leave Iraq, formed the premise of movie Saving Private Ryan. | |
Nathan and Jason Hubbard had joined the army in 2005, shortly after their brother, Jared, died aged 22. | Nathan and Jason Hubbard had joined the army in 2005, shortly after their brother, Jared, died aged 22. |
The fact that you've gone through this before doesn't prepare you to suffer it all over again Tim McLain RolenHubbard family pastor | The fact that you've gone through this before doesn't prepare you to suffer it all over again Tim McLain RolenHubbard family pastor |
Jared died in Ramadi along with his best friend from school, Jeremiah Baro, and the two friends were buried next to each other in Clovis. | Jared died in Ramadi along with his best friend from school, Jeremiah Baro, and the two friends were buried next to each other in Clovis. |
After his first son's death, his father Jeff Hubbard said: "I hope and pray it comes to a good solution because there's been a tremendous sacrifice. | After his first son's death, his father Jeff Hubbard said: "I hope and pray it comes to a good solution because there's been a tremendous sacrifice. |
"And it would just be awful if it didn't accomplish something great." | "And it would just be awful if it didn't accomplish something great." |
Nathan died this week when a helicopter crashed during a night mission in the Tamim province that surrounds Kirkuk, an oil-rich city 180 miles (290 kilometres) north of Baghdad. | |
A military official said facts gathered indicated the crash was almost certainly due to a mechanical problem and not hostile fire, although the final cause remained under investigation. | A military official said facts gathered indicated the crash was almost certainly due to a mechanical problem and not hostile fire, although the final cause remained under investigation. |
'Distraught' family | 'Distraught' family |
Following Nathan's death, military officials ordered the return home of Jason, the eldest Hubbard sibling. | Following Nathan's death, military officials ordered the return home of Jason, the eldest Hubbard sibling. |
Jeff and Peggy Hubbard will bury their second son next week | Jeff and Peggy Hubbard will bury their second son next week |
It was reportedly the death of Jared that prompted his two other brothers to sign up for military service. | |
Nathan's funeral is scheduled for next week. | |
The family pastor, Tim McLain Rolen, said the Hubbards were distraught. | |
"The fact that you've gone through this before doesn't prepare you to suffer it all over again," he said. | |
Under the US military "sole survivor" policy, the last remaining sibling in a war zone can ask to return home when his brothers or sisters have been killed. The regulations are designed to spare parents losing all their children to war. | Under the US military "sole survivor" policy, the last remaining sibling in a war zone can ask to return home when his brothers or sisters have been killed. The regulations are designed to spare parents losing all their children to war. |
The US War Department introduced the policy after five siblings, the Sullivan brothers, died when their light cruiser the USS Juneau was sunk in World War II. | The US War Department introduced the policy after five siblings, the Sullivan brothers, died when their light cruiser the USS Juneau was sunk in World War II. |
This rule formed the basis of Steven Spielberg's 1998 film Saving Private Ryan, in which a team of soldiers are sent to Europe to look for a last remaining sibling amid heavy fighting in World War II. |