By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
January 16, 2008

Debbie Lee recently became the first mother in America to visit an Iraqi city where her son had given his life in service to country.

As she entered the camp named after Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee, formerly of Hood River, Debbie felt the familiar ache of loss. She was also gripped by an almost overwhelming sense of pride: Her son was regarded as a hero by not only military personnel but Iraqi citizens.

“After being there I can see why Marc fell in love with the people. They are so appreciative of everything that we are doing on their behalf,” said Lee, who now makes her home in Surprise, Ariz.

She will share experiences of her interaction with U.S. troops and the Iraqi people at two special programs in the Gorge this weekend (see box for details.)

Lee joins Marine Corps Col. Mike Howard in presenting “Iraq: The Rest of the Story.” Both events are free and sponsored by American Legion Post 22 and the Vagabond Lodge in Hood River.

“Our troops are doing so much for us; how can we not be grateful?” asked Lee, is now referred to as “Mama Lee” by SEAL teams.

She said it was disheartening that several Support the Troops rallies in Washington, D.C., last year failed to garner as much media attention as lesser-attended peace marches. She said a Pew Research Center study showed that for the first 10 months of 2007, 47 percent of the press coverage in Iraq focused on violence. And only 4.6 percent of programming dealt with the improved quality of life that is now enjoyed by many Iraqi citizens.

For example, Lee said the entrepreneurial spirit of Iraqis is evidenced by dozens of small businesses that have opened along the streets of Baghdad.

“There are numerous pro-troop groups now coming together to get the message out about what is happening over there,” said Lee.

“We not only want to get the message out to civilians, we want to let our military men and women know that are grateful to them and are out here defending them.”

During the two-week trip to Iraq during the holiday season, Lee and other volunteers distributed some of the 226,000 Christmas and Hanukkah cards that had been collected by Move America Forward. The organization is the largest pro-troop nonprofit group in the United States and has signed Lee on as a motivational speaker.

While in Iraq, her contingent was embedded with the Army’s 1st Squadron of the 4th Calvary. They worked out of a Forward Operating Base that is unnamed for security purposes.

“I had a chance to hug so many of our soldiers on behalf of all the mothers in America — and that was great,” said Lee.

She said Gen. David Petraeus’s troop surge has worked to end much of the violence in major cities and “she has the statistics to prove it.”

For example, Army data supplied to Lee listed 50 enemy-initiated attacks in southern Baghdad during June of 2007. However, that number had slipped to five by September and stood at zero for both November and December.

During the same time period, the number of terrorist arrests rose from 22 in June to 90 in August.

“Once the people began to feel safe they started helping the troops get the insurgents out of their neighborhoods,” said Lee.

She said it has become a common sight to see patrolling soldiers and Marines being hospitably invited into Iraq homes for a cup of tea.

“They care, and the Iraqi people know that,” said Lee. “The rebuilding is going well and the Iraqis are stepping up to the plate because they want to protect their new freedoms.”

She said being able to interact so closely with active-duty members of the armed forces has reinforced her strong sense of community among military families. For example, she rode in a HumVee where a soldier had been killed while on patrol last August. Lee realized during a subsequent conversation with a grieving father that the young man had been his son. She was able to share with the heartbroken parent that his soldier’s sacrifice would never be forgotten by his comrades.

During a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., last year, Lee met a wounded soldier who had served with Marc — and he handed over new pictures of her son.

Since Marc’s death on Aug. 2, 2006, Lee has made it her mission to promote patriotism and build support for the troops. She said it was endearing to see how humble soldiers in Iraq were about receiving her praise.

“When I was passing out cards and telling them ‘thank you’ they would give me a dumbfounded ‘You’ve got to be kidding’ sort of look. And then they would thank me,” said Lee.

“It was just so amazing and I am so touched. America needs to wake up and realize the level of sacrifice that is taking place for them in Iraq and Afghanistan.”