10.21.74 - 1.16.06

On Jan 16, 2006 Spc. Chris Talley, 31, died at home in his bed.  It was
determined his death was caused by a pain patch, prescribed by a V.A. doctor,
that leaked a lethal dose into his body.  

Chris was born in Utah and grew up with his parents and brother in Ohio and
then in California’s central coast, near his extended family.  He enjoyed surfing,
scuba diving, Disney flicks, the Dave Mathews band, and traveling abroad.  He
often spoke of the importance of family.

In early 2003 Chris joined Oregon’s National Guard and was mobilized in
October, 2003.  During the summer of 2004 Chris served in Iraq, protecting our
convoys while wearing a Kevlar vest his cousin purchased for him. His back
was injured under fire.  He returned to the States that fall, but not before writing,
“The sky looks different. I try to take time every night and look at the sky and
think of my loved ones and how much time we will spend together when I come
home.”  He was a good and proud soldier who regretted leaving his comrades
behind in Iraq.

His short life had no lack of action and color. Chris tried his hand at several
jobs but only reveled in the Army.  He made an effort to rejoin them, but, owing
to injuries as yet unresolved, this was not possible.  During his recovery he
transferred to be closer to his brother in San Diego.  Feeling his country was
neglecting his treatment, he moved to Pensacola to begin a V.A. residential
PTSD program and assessment for spinal surgery.

Chris’ military decorations include the Iraq Campaign Medal and Combat
Action Badge.    A request for posthumous award of the Purple Heart Medal
awaits further documentation.
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Spc Chris Talley
When relating the story of our son's life and death, I cannot avoid treading political ground. Our dear son, Chris, Oregon Guardsman died this
year, on January 16 th, at home, in his bed. The last morning his Latina mother would enter his room to call him for a morning walk with their
beloved Boxer dogs – the most difficult day of his brother's life, calling me at work to relay the tragic news -- the day I collapsed in tears at work
without one thought for what anyone else thought of me, sobbing "Not now, God, not now!"  A year has almost passed and not a day goes by
that I do  not hurt inside.

Chris believed in his government and chose to serve in Iraq. We were so relieved he came back to us from Iraq alive.   But this was small
consolation when we received the coroner's report.  He returned from war with a back injury and PTSD that our government failed to adequately
treat. Chris succumbed at the age of 31 from a lethal dose of pain medication proscribed by the VA hospital doctors to treat his war injury. No
illegal substances or alcohol were detected. In 2004 the FDA recalled several batches of fentanyl patches and issued more warnings in 2005.
Learning a big pharmaceutical corporation and the VA accomplished what Al Quaida could not, makes me so angry I want to spit.  My wife and I
wonder if we would feel better if even one of our top government officials responsible for this war had ever worn a uniform in combat – or sent
one of their own - or even attended one funeral for our fallen soldiers. Everyone must respect Oregon’s Governor Kulongoski for having
attended all our fallen soldier funerals.

Adlai Stevenson said: "A free society is a place where it is safe to be unpopular." Those of us raised in the 40's and 50's believed life would be
better for our kids. In disproportionate numbers, our rural, poor and minority children, like our Chris, joined the National Guard to get a “leg up”
on opportunity. He served a nation whose government and the auto industry refuses to conserve fuel or support a serious alternative energy
program – a government that passed an energy bill filled with tax cuts for the oil industry that is already making record profits. Some of these
profits go to nations that fund the enemy in Iraq. After 9/11, the President's message to the country was, "Get out and go shopping." The United
States Army could not afford protective Kevlar vests for others like Chris, whose families were left to procure them. One of Congress' most
recent budgets, supported by President Bush, proposed cutting the Veteran's Administration Budget drastically, even as more of our soldiers
return from Iraq, requiring more services from the VA.

Contrast this picture against the American Depression and WWII -- an America where collaboration trumped competition and a dignified life
meant more than a shiny personality car. Citizens worked together to go without. Fuel was rationed and so were food, clothing, shoes, coffee,
and tires. People planted "Victory Gardens , and by 1945, an estimated 20 million "Victory Gardens" produced approximately 40 percent of
America's vegetables. Thanks to the unions American soldiers returned from the war to good family wages jobs.

Chris' military commitment changed his life. Though he and I did not agree about how best to help the Iraqi people, he never used patriotism
as a refuge to silence my contrary view. Though he complained about the delays in treatment and medical attention, he still wanted to return to
Iraq. Chris was a patriot, even though the country whose honor he defended let him languish for over a year and a half without adequate
treatment for his chronic back pain. In this, Chris demonstrated true democratic maturity. My pride in my son's sacrifice and commitment has
never wavered.

The last time I saw our son alive was when I visited him and his brother on my birthday last year. Due to his pain and injury, he could not go
surfing with his brother and me. We planned a big night out to be with their friends, but his back hurt too much to go. Chris was in a downward
spiral that year which made my heart sink. I tried to get him to Pendleton for surgery, school and more counseling -- but he did not want to go
against the Army to seek private medical care. Before he died, Chris moved to Pensacola to await residential treatment for PTSD. With the
support of his mother and his wonderful step-dad, a Marine Sergeant Major, is where he would rebuild his mind and body. "It's not how many
times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up," my dad used to say.  Chris was not married and had no children.

Until the last, Chris took a hero's adventure* and we honor him for it — and you too, good reader, for listening.  His family and friends will hold a
one-year memorial celebration. His commander told Chris that he would recommend him for a Purple Heart, which Chris had declined during
service, believing he was only doing his duty. Every day we hug his cat very close and know that he is watching and loving us -- gone only from
our sight, never from our hearts.

*Check out this brief 1 pager from Joe Campbell - The Hero Journey
www.mythsdreamssymbols.com/herojourney.html-blessings
Spc Chris Talley
RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON FOR FULL U.S.WITHDRAWALFROM IRAQ

We, the undersigned, request the Democratic Party of Oregon endorse legislation calling for an
immediate beginning of orderly and rapid redeployment then withdrawal of U.S. troops, no
permanent U.S. military installations in Iraq, reduce the Baghdad embassy to normal size and
authority, and an end to U.S. control of the Iraqi economy. We call upon all elected officials on
the local, state and national level to support this legislation.

WHEREAS: The justifications for the invasion were false and violated the public trust;

Whereas: Iraq presented no threat to the U.S. at the time of the invasion and the U.S. war
violates international law;

Whereas: Iraq's infrastructure has been devastated and more than 100,000 Iraqis have been
killed;

Whereas: The war on Iraq has had a negative impact on Oregon, the U.S., Iraq and the world
at large;

Whereas: The death toll of U.S. soldiers and Iraqis continues to mount; more than 60 U.S.
troops from Oregon have died;

Whereas: The U.S. government has spent more than $300 billion on the war in Iraq while the
U.S. deficit climbs; and

Whereas: Astronomical military spending steals from Oregonians through cuts in social
programs. Military, health, and interest on the debt consumes two-thirds of every income tax
dollar. The median income family in Oregon paid $4,103 in federal income taxes in 2005. Here
is how some of that amount was spent: Military: $1,170; Education: $167; Veterans’ Benefits:
$152 figures as of 4/06
http://nationalpriorities.org/auxiliary/somePdfs/taxday2006/or.pdf)

NOW, THEREFORE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 to endorse legislation calling for an immediate beginning of orderly and rapid
redeployment then withdrawal of U.S. troops, no permanent U.S. military installations in Iraq,
reduce the Baghdad embassy to normal size and authority, and an end to U.S. control of the
Iraqi economy. We call upon all elected officials on the local, state and national level to support
this legislation.

ADOPTED by the Democratic Party of Oregon on the 2nd day of December 2006.
Submitted by: Ben Talley*, Delegate, State Central Committee Democratic Congressional Delegation.

RESOLUTION No. 2006-028 on December 2, 2006

*Proud father of Spc Chris Talley (Deceased)
Portrait courtesy of Michael Reagan
Spc. Chris Talley - Fallen Hero
Fallen Soldier Spc. Chris Talley