Published: July 04, 2009 11:03 am      

Fathers of slain soldiers oppose visit

CHOCTAW, Okla. — Two men whose sons were killed while serving in Iraq are upset that former President George W. Bush is the honored guest at Woodward's Independence Day celebration on Saturday.

Warren Henthorn's son, Army Spc. Jeffrey Henthorn, was killed Feb. 8, 2005, and John Scripsick's son, Marine Cpl. Bryan Scripsick, was killed in Sept. 6, 2007.

Henthorn, a Choctaw resident, told the Tulsa World that his son joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard when he was 17 and served six years. He enlisted in the Army in 2003 and was serving a second tour in Iraq when he died.

"I didn't much care for it. He had already done six years," said Henthorn, whose son was 25 when he died. "He knew he was going to war. I did too."

Henthorn, who served during the Vietnam War, said he opposed the war.

"The consensus now is that war wasn't necessary."

Scripsick's son was killed with three other Marines in a suicide bomb attack, six months after he arrived. He was 22 years old.

The Wayne resident said his son joined the Marines after talking with a recruiter at his high school.

"I was against it 100 percent," Scripsick said. "He kept saying 'The recruiter said more people die in car wrecks than in the military.' He kept talking about seeing the world."

Henthorn invited Scripsick to some peace demonstrations, and both attended a protest when Bush came to Oklahoma City in September 2008 to raise money for former Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

"We've both become political junkies," Scripsick said. "We're just trying to figure out why our sons were sent to Iraq."

Henthorn said he started laughing when he heard Bush would be visiting the Oklahoma town of about 15,000 people.

"I'm not saying anything bad about Woodward. I was kind of shocked by it. I don't believe he should be invited," Henthorn said.

Woodward City Manager Alan Riffle said most residents are thrilled to have a former president visit. Bush will speak in the new stadium at Crystal Beach Park about patriotism, independence and his life as president, Riffle said.

Protesters will not be allowed at the event, he said.

"There are people out there that do not favor his politics or his decisions as president," Riffle said. "That won't be allowed in the Crystal Beach area. The motorcade route, he may encounter that. He's accustomed to it."

Scripsick said he hopes to make a difference by voicing his anti-Bush opinions in demonstrations.

"I don't enjoy doing it, but I thought Bryan probably didn't enjoy doing house-to-house searches either," Scripsick said. "It's too late for us, but maybe it will help some other kids."

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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com