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Little Girl Can't Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq
Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids, Amazing Parents
Paige Bennethum, 4, holds her daddy's hand as he lines up in formation before heading to Iraq. Credit: Abby Bennethum
Some things are just not allowed when soldiers are standing in formation. One of them is 4-year-old girls.
However, there was no soldier stern enough to pry Paige Bennethum of Laureldale, Pa. from her father as he prepared to leave last July for a year-long deployment in Iraq.
Abby Bennethum captured her daughter's emotions in a photograph that she passed along to the Reading Eagle, the newspaper in Berks County, Pa. The image immediately captured many other people's emotions.
Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum was preparing to depart from Fort Dix, N.J., for Iraq, leaving behind his pregnant wife and two little girls. His family was there to see him off. His commanding officer didn't have the heart to tell Paige she had to let go of her daddy.
"I didn't want to let go of him," she told NBC Philadelphia.
Sgt. Bennethum, 30, is scheduled to return home next July. Until then, he's transporting supplies across the Iraqi border. He serves with the 733rd Transportation Company based in Reading, Pa.
Abby Bennethum said she got pregnant right before her husband left for Iraq. "I've heard of deployment babies, but I never thought I'd be having one," she told the Reading Eagle. The couple's other daughter, Lena, is just 10 months old.
Staff Sgt. Bennethum got a four-day pass so he could spend some quality time with his family and they could make the two-hour trip to Fort Dix to see him off. Almost immediately upon arrival, his commanding officer ordered the soldiers to fall in.
"Gotta go," he told his family. But Paige walked up behind him in formation, grabbed his right hand and would not let go.
"I called her a couple of times, but she wouldn't budge," her mother said. She still wishes she was holding her father's hand.
"I just miss my dad right now," Paige told NBC.
Related: Iraq Vet Fights for Custody of Her Child
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 27)
10-08-2009 @ 7:47PM
michelle said...Amen Mary!
10-08-2009 @ 7:57PM
Andre Bravin said...It just broke my heart looking at the picture. I can imagine how hard it is for a father seeing his little angle in tears because he was leaving. I always pray for our heros.
10-08-2009 @ 10:55PM
devin said...I am 6'1" 235 lb, and a power lifter at that. This brought tears to my eyes. I am not too proud to admit it.
10-09-2009 @ 10:22AM
Stacey said...Yes, this one hits close to home. My husband is over there right now. My little ones are so brave but it is so hard for them. Even our biggest at 19 cried and clung to daddy. My 4 month old just thinks it is a silly man making faces to him on the webcam. God bless the military child. This little girl is a real trooper. Lesson to all of us. Sometimes you need to buck up and take what you want.
10-09-2009 @ 4:49PM
Matt said...When i seen this pic my first thoughts where of my little girl who is the same age, I couldnt imagine being without here for that long, my secound thought was this should be the TIME life picture of the year, through all the courage and honor our men a women have and the strength the have, this would bring anyone to there knees, thank you for all that you do, come home safe
5-13-2010 @ 11:57AM
Stu said...Instant tears for me as well. This little girl would never have had to let go of her Daddy's hand had we not attacked a non-threat to the people of our country.
5-13-2010 @ 7:12PM
Lindsaay said...Call it hormones or what have you, but I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. With two boys, 1 and 4, and a baby due just after my husband will be deploying this picture really depicts my heart. I don't want to let go either. And I can't imagine our children are going to feel much better about it. But... this is what we signed up to do. Protect the millions of families in our country. God Bless the many military men and women and their families that struggle with them.
10-07-2009 @ 2:32PM
Judy Hinterlong said...What a poignant picture. Let's hope they ALL come home safely. A picture speaks a thousand words.
Reply
10-07-2009 @ 2:45PM
Melissa said...Mary, I hope for that, too. And instant tears for me too, I pray they all come home safe.
Reply
10-07-2009 @ 3:58PM
penny said...My wish is the same Mary, what a heart tugging picture.
Paige, I am praying for your daddy. My daddy went far away when I was little too, hugs and kisses in my heart for him and for you.
Reply
10-07-2009 @ 5:00PM
Karen said...How does anyone ever do that? Leaving your children to risk your life in service of your country is awe-inspiring. What a sweet little girl, too.
Reply
10-08-2009 @ 2:19PM
susan said...My daughter is currently flying an Apache Helicopter in Iraq. She left behind a husband and a girl, 8, and a boy,5 on a base in Germany. I grew up in the 60's- went to U.C. Berkeley. I don't know how my child can leave her child for this war. But she believes in what she is doing- that it is for the protection of her children and all of our children. She is willing to risk her life and I am proud of her, despite where I am coming from. I am proud of her for being one of the few women army helicopter pilots, breaking ground where women could not go before and I am proud of her for doing something about her beliefs instead of just talking about them as I did so many years ago. My daughter the soldier, may God bless her and keep her and all of the soldiers who are defending our children and grandchildren.
10-07-2009 @ 5:38PM
Brian W said...This picture makes me furious. Furious that we have a socialist Bozo like Barak Obama in the White House who barely supports our military. We need to give these military men and women all the tools to be victorious in any endeavor. We need to give them whatever gear and support to keep them safe, accomplish their mission and come home alive and whole to see their little girls.
Reply
10-07-2009 @ 8:59PM
Jennifer said...Let us not forget that it was BUSH who sent our troops into war and set up the current situation.
10-07-2009 @ 9:59PM
Maxwell Jump said..."Let us not forget that it was BUSH who sent our troops into war and set up the current situation."
Actually, Jennifer, it was years, if not decades, of terrorist attacks on the US and it's interests, culminating with 9/11, that set up the current situation.
Saying "Osama Bin Laden sent his "troops" into war and set up the current situation' would have been far more accurate.
10-08-2009 @ 2:17PM
kn said...To Brian W.- have you forgotten who got us into this war???? that no one! is ever gonna win, esp. Dads and little girls like that!
10-08-2009 @ 2:21PM
matthew thomas said...Pleeease !lets all forget the political junk,support our military and their families who pay for freedom everyday.Its aesy to run your mouth when you are sitting on the couch at home.
10-08-2009 @ 2:41PM
Nancy K. said...Idiot!! Barack (spell our President's name right fool) Obama, didn't start this war!!! BUSH friggin did. Furthermore, under Bush's watch were solidiers NOT provided appropriate gear!!!
Wha zi mater, you no likee Black President??? That's what I read between those ignorant lines of whatever!!! How dare you!!
Annd, I've an idea, why don't we, the Iraqi's, the Afghans and all collect the pixs of children left behind ravaged from war and trade that!!! Human adults are a cancer upon this earth!!! NK in New York!!
10-08-2009 @ 4:36PM
betty said...brian w. . . you are an idiot!
10-08-2009 @ 3:21PM
Gail J said...I couldn't agree more. The picture was heart wrenching and the story is just as wrenching. Unfortunately WE are stuck with the man. I hope everyone who voted for him learned their lessons.