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Family loses 2nd son in war; 3rd brother serves
By Lisa Leff
Associated Press
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CLOVIS, Calif. -- Early in the Iraq war, Jeff and Peggy Hubbard faced the news that every parent with a child at war dreads, the death of their son Jared, a Marine killed alongside his best friend.

Two years, nine months and 18 days later, they faced another grim-faced officer. This time, it was their youngest, Army Cpl. Nathan Hubbard, 21, dead in a helicopter crash in Iraq.

A third brother, Jason, was on another helicopter in the same unit and was at the crash site. He accompanied his brother's body on a flight out of Iraq and was on his way home for the funeral.

The family has been told that, if he requests it, Jason Hubbard will be discharged or given a noncombat assignment under an Army policy governing sole surviving siblings and children of soldiers killed in combat, said Tim Rolen, a family friend and pastor who co-presided at Jared Hubbard's funeral on Veteran's Day 2004.

"In all of our minds we have an order of the way things go. The death of a child is out of order. You now have a family that has lost two," Rolen said. "One doesn't prepare you for another one."

Nathan was barely out of high school when a roadside bomb killed Jared and Jared's best friend. Nathan tattooed his brother's initials on his arm, described him as his hero and enlisted to pick up where his big brother left off.

With a yearlong tour of duty almost behind him, he was making plans to meet his buddies in Hawaii, where he was stationed, when the Black Hawk helicopter carrying him and 13 other soldiers had mechanical problems and crashed during a night flight. There were no survivors.

Jason Hubbard, 33, had resigned as a Fresno County sheriff's deputy to join the Army at the same time Nathan did. At their request, the two were assigned to the same unit, the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division based on Oahu.

Jason was riding in another helicopter when the Black Hawk went down. He told his wife by telephone that he was part of the crew assigned to search the wreckage, according to Rolen.

He accompanied Nathan's body on a military aircraft from Iraq to Kuwait, then on to California.

Flags were lowered to half-staff outside homes, stores and municipal buildings Friday all over Clovis, a city of 90,000 next to Fresno.

For many people in the town, the Hubbard family's tragedy elicited echoes from two movies: "Saving Private Ryan," which depicted the search for a paratrooper whose three brothers have already died in World War II, and "Legends of the Fall" - one of Nathan Hubbard's favorite films - about the death of the youngest of three Montana brothers who went off to battle during World War I.

The military does not track families with more than one child serving in Iraq or cases in which casualties have resulted in a service member's discharge or change in combat status, said Lt. Jonathan Withington, a Department of Defense spokesman.

Buchanan High Principal Don Ulrich remembered Nathan Hubbard, a 2004 graduate, as a happy-go-lucky student and junior varsity wrestler who made friends easily. Counselors sent to the school Thursday were mostly visited by teachers and staff members who remembered the deaths of 2001 graduates Jared Hubbard and his friend, Jeremiah Baro.

"It is very difficult to comprehend the loss this Buchanan family has endured. All we can do is support Nathan and his brothers' commitment to serving their country and keep the family in our prayers," Ulrich said.

The Hubbards - who also have a daughter, Heidi, 31 - asked for privacy. Jeff Hubbard is a retired Clovis police officer, and a uniformed officer was posted outside their door. Capt. Drew Berrington, a longtime friend whose son grew up with Jared Hubbard, said the family's double tragedy had unsettled the most hardened veterans.

"It's difficult for us, even though we are people who deal with disturbing situations on a daily basis. It gets under our armor, even though we deal with death all the time," Berrington said.

Rolen said Jeff and Peggy Hubbard had conflicting emotions when Nathan and Jason enlisted six months after their brother's death. The parents were proud, but wanted to make sure the sons were doing it for the right reasons and understood the risks, he said.

"Any parent who has lost a child in this manner would say, 'Be sure.' This is a family that is strong on commitment," he said.

In an interview with The Fresno Bee shortly before he left for basic training in 2005, Nathan Hubbard said he knew the dangers but did not worry about dying.

"My brother - my parents' son - will always be in our hearts, and we'll always remember him and we'll always think of him and all that, but we've got to move on, and that's what we are doing," he said.

Nathan is to be buried late this coming week with full military honors at Clovis Cemetery, where his brother and friend Jeremiah Baro were buried side by side.

On Friday, at their first regular season game, members of Buchanan High School's football team plan to wear five stars on their helmets, one in honor of each graduate who has died in Iraq, school district spokeswoman Kelly Avants said.

Take a look
This is a Nov. 17, 2005 file photo of Peggy and Jeff Hubbard holding up a photograph of their sons Jason, left, and Nathan, taken in Clovis, Calif. Army Spc. Nathan Hubbard was killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007. Nathan Hubbard had joined the Army after his brother Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard was killed in Iraq in 2004. (AP Photo/Fresno Bee, Tomas Ovalle)
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Reader comments on this story - 28 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Hey Mikey wrote on Aug 26, 2007 11:07 PM:

" To: JEN; And they have paid for YOUR freedom as well!! However, how much does one family have to pay?? "

Jen wrote on Aug 26, 2007 9:56 PM:

" Before you guys go off on weird political tangents, remember these men VOLUNTEERED. They wanted to serve their country, and you, and in doing so, payed for your freedom with their lives. I agree with YadaYada on this point. saying BUT and IF only trivializes these men's sacrifice. And to all of you people who call the president "King George," I bet you'll vote next time, won't you, hippies? "

Hey Mikey wrote on Aug 26, 2007 7:26 PM:

" Sounds like another 'Sullivan Brothers' story in the making....Do those in Washington D.C. not know anything about History?? It is time to bring the third brother home and not let Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard go thru this again!! This war has gone way past its time. Time for Iraq to stand up for itself and show the world it can...Bring our troops home NOW!! "

to: wrote on Aug 26, 2007 5:32 PM:

" I bet if they had the last name of Clinton, Kennedy, Kerry, Obama, etc... they would not have been over there either. However, these brave young men were doing the job that alot of people won't do. These 2 young men have earned our respect, and damn it I am going to give it to them, right along with every other man/woman who has had the heart to put on the uniform of this country's military. This family has had to endure more than anyone should ever have to. This article is not about Bush, the war, or your personal views on either subject. This article is about 1 family that has suffered the loss of 2 of the bravest people in the world. There will plenty of time to express your personal beliefs in other articles. If you have any sense of decency, you will leave them out of this one, and respect these two warriors who have paid the ultimate price just doing their job. God bless the Hubbard family, and every other mother, father, brother, sister, aunt , uncle, son, daughter, who will have to go on without their loved ones. GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. "

yep wrote on Aug 26, 2007 4:28 PM:

" God Bless the Soldiers and Sailors God Damn the Democrats,Muslims and the Communist........... God Bless America ................................. Pray we go after IRAN next........................ "

YadaYada wrote on Aug 26, 2007 4:03 PM:

" Dear "I am", absolutely everything you said in your commentary prior to the word "But" was redacted upon your use of that word. There is NO "But" after saying "I do not disparage the troops". There is NO "But" after saying "My heart goes out to the parents". You cheapened the sentiments by opposing them with a negative. I'm a vet (Vietnam), too. In fact, I was drafted. I served at a time when I had other plans. I've no complaints and in spite of all the negative aspects of Vietnam, I still believe Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon had the best interests of America and the world at heart while waging war there. I believe with all my heart that America's best interest is served by waging war in Iraq. I am truly thankful for the Hubbards and other heroes for their service in this war and the heroes of all other wars in which America participated; no IFs, ANDs, or BUTs. "

Not Just...Another Idiot wrote on Aug 26, 2007 1:37 PM:

" My condolences to Peggy and Jeff Hubbard for their tragic losses. I imagine that some day they would consider a movie about their sons to be an honor. The Hubbard brothers are heroes and nothing is too good for heroes because they are everything the rest of us only wish we were. There was a true story and movie of the five Sullivan Brothers of Waterloo, Iowa, who were all killed when their light Cruiser, the Juneau, was attacked by the Japanese during World War II. The film "Sullivans", was made in 1944, later renamed "The Fighting Sullivans". Subsequently, a fictional movie about WWII, "Saving Private Ryan", early references the Sullivan incident as a backdrop for locating and vacating Private Ryan from the battle zone because Pvt. Ryan was the last living military member from the Ryan family. "

YadaYada wrote on Aug 26, 2007 12:04 PM:

" Heroes all, these special persons who serve and die for a cause they deem worthy of embracing with every fiber of their being and never demand anything from the rest of us. Let the critics have their say; it matters not to the righteousness of a heroe's conscience. "

truly sad wrote on Aug 26, 2007 7:43 AM:

" especially since we have not yet found any weapons of mas destructin yet....... I agree with "I am" - Dictator George should get his kids over there. better yet. George should do something useful and get over there himself. "

God Bless This Family wrote on Aug 26, 2007 1:39 AM:

" I only hope the cheapshot artists (you know who you are and a few have already spawned their ville) will leave this story alone. This family has paid the ultimate price twice. These people are SHINING examples of what has made this country GREAT since its' inception. Thank You for the sacrafices you have made and to job you did raising such WONDERFUL, BRAVE, SONS. "

JDL wrote on Aug 26, 2007 1:07 AM:

" God bless these young Hero's and their family. These young men gave their lives for us. The least we can do is acknowledge their sacrifice for something THEY thought very strongly about, even if you do not, no matter what your political views are. These young men gave their lives for you and all some of you can say is they waisted their lives. Shame on those of you that do not dignify their ultimate sacrifice, for us. We Americans are fighting against an EVIL enemy that is hiding behind religion and justifying their EVIL through religion. Just because you cannot see the Evil you could at least respect the sacrifices made by all of our Hero's in uniform. I pray to God that I may be as strong and brave as these men and the countless other military soldiers and their families. My apologies to the family of these brave men for my outspoken response in their time of mourning. I thank the family for their unbelievable strength and sacrifice. "

I am wrote on Aug 25, 2007 11:28 PM:

" an honorably discharged veteran of the Vietnam era. My credentials are clean. I do not disparage the troops at all. My heart goes out to the parents. But....I still think King George ought to send his kids over. "

I bet wrote on Aug 25, 2007 11:26 PM:

" if they had been dating the Bush twins those boys would have been home. "

to keeping wrote on Aug 25, 2007 10:10 PM:

" this is not the forum for it "

Just...Another Idiot wrote on Aug 25, 2007 8:47 PM:

" Hey I think this story would make a GREAT movie. Any other idiots agree with me?? "

sad wrote on Aug 25, 2007 6:51 PM:

" so soorrrry for the loss. bring all of them home now "

To The Warriors wrote on Aug 25, 2007 6:50 PM:

" Thank you guys for your service. May you rest in peace. God Bless. "

To There had not wrote on Aug 25, 2007 6:42 PM:

" I agree with you. One's position on the war is not relevant to this article. Only respect and sympathy are appropriate. "

To keeping it 'nonpolitical' wrote on Aug 25, 2007 6:31 PM:

" God forbid that we acknowledge that these two brothers were killed in vain, fighting a very political war, a useless war.... the military is a killing machine and too many lives across the world have been lost in vain. It's a shame and the longer we sit around and stay silent, the more lives are lost. We should send Bush to Iraq to fight it for himself, rather than risk more lives like these two brothers. "

i agree wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:32 PM:

" keep it nonpolitical "

Very sorry wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:26 PM:

" my deepest sympathy to this family, I am very sorry for the loss of your sons. What a tremendous scarifice. God Bless. "

mom of two soldiers wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:12 PM:

" this may never be read by the family in this article but my heart feels their pain the loss of one is more then anyone should bear but two is extremely unfair ...my sympathies are with you and your family...i am as proud of these young men and women who give their live in a war of confusion as if they were all my own sons "

These men are~~ wrote on Aug 25, 2007 4:54 PM:

" HEROES!!!! Thoughts and prayers to the family. "

Hubbard wrote on Aug 25, 2007 4:21 PM:

" Your sons will not be forgotten. God bless them, and your family "

rick wrote on Aug 25, 2007 3:53 PM:

" May God Bless this family....He must truly love them, as he only gives the really special people such a cross to bear. The only consolation is to know that they have two in heaven. This family truly knows the meaning of sacrafice. My prayers to them, and all serving our country. "

To the Hubbard Family wrote on Aug 25, 2007 3:20 PM:

" May the Lord Bless you, your sacrifices will not be forgotten "

There had not wrote on Aug 25, 2007 2:57 PM:

" be any negative political views or spins on this from any one who puts a posting. Ther somberness of the article and the sacrifice of this family will be tainted by any political statement. Only messages of sympathy..........please "

Deepest Sympathy wrote on Aug 25, 2007 2:50 PM:

" to this Family "
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