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Dead soldier's dad promises they'll play Call of Duty again photo

A touching game-related tribute has surfaced in the press recently. British Private Richard Hunt died last week after falling victim to an explosive while patrolling Afghanistan. At the grave site of Hunt, a copy of Call of Duty: World at War now rests, lain there by his father. 

A handwritten note was attached to the game, reading: "Happy Birthday 'Hunty'. Play you again one day. Dad."

For some reason, this story really gets to me. I think it's the extra resonance it has as a game-related story. Either way, it's a very touching sentiment and one that makes me feel both happy and sad at the same time. That said, the cold streak of cynicism running through me wants to place bets on how long it will be before someone heads to the grave and steals themselves a free game.


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62 comments | showing # 1 to 50

falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 08:42
falinter
T_T
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 08:46
Jon B
;_;
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 08:47
Magnalon
In before all the Kotaku trolls come in and say "lame: why wasn't it Modern Warfare".

Sad story indeed.
TJF588's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 08:53
TJF588
Wait, a father laid something at his own grave? Way it's phrased, it's like some random guy's grandfather put a game at his son's gravesite. Do you mean the British Private died and his dad left something?
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 08:54
Jon B
@Magnalon
Before they do, I'm just going to point out that by "play you again" it makes it sound like he already had MW.
Of course, that probably won't stop the trolls.

Still a really sad story, and as Jim said, the game-related part of it makes it hit home that little bit more that there are real people with real families out there dying for their country.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:11
Sexualchocolate
"dying for their country."

No British / American soldiers are "dying for their country" - they are dying because our governments are fucking terrorists.

Our Countries are not at risk, no one is fighting for queen and country, people are fighting because the government has an interest in securing Afghanistan.

When Afghanistan looked to be turning toward the communists, the American government gave the Taliban Billions of dollars to fight what they consider a common enemy.

Then, curiously enough, shortly before 9/11 the Bush administration asked the Taliban if it could run pipelines through Afghanistan, the Taliban said NO - then all of a sudden seemed to grow an instant hatred for the USA, then 9/11 happens, many of the hijackers supposedly involved have actually been found alive and well, yet the Bush administration needs a war, they promised Haliburton and the military supply companies and oil companies a war, so they attack.....

Iraq. To murder Saddam.

Then they remember the simple refusal to comply by the Taliban, paint them as the evil "extremists" and "terrorists" we hear so much about and go in guns blazing, shock and awe-ing (side note, shock and awe is essentially Terrorism) and enjoy a long drawn out yet extremely profitable war, which they now say could last 10+ years!

So yeah, soldiers die because they've been lied to by the government, not for any other reason. Their homeland is not at risk, there is nothing to be gained from this war, unless you're a big US corporation who rebuilds nations or supplies the army with bullets and bombs.

It's a shame this guy was killed by American bought weapons and American trained fighters while fighting an American profit-war, but it's touching that his dad would respect his interests in gaming.
CtMythic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:14
CtMythic
In before The Daily Mail twists the fuck out of this story.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:27
Jon B
@sexualchocolate
They're dying for the goverment, who rule the country. But I do agree that it's a war we shouldn't be fighting.
dephect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:27
dephect
@Sexualchocolate - This isnt NPR.

Sad story indeed... I feel for the family, touching sentiment from the father makes this even more sad.
Furius's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:28
Furius
Alright Michael Moore.
Kaspar's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:28
Kaspar
@ Sexualchocolate

Word, my friend. I'm starting to notice a trend in TV shows etc, where a dialog seems to repeat itself when a character goes to Iraq or something.
"Whaawhaawhaa he's gon get killd this is stupid"
"He will go there so you and me can sleep safely at night"

This pro-war propaganda needs to end.
Palidi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:29
Palidi
Wow, that was a lot more poetic than most of the other Iraq war victims stories I've heard.

It would have been a lot more poetic had he placed down a copy of Modern Warfare though. You know, as in it's the closest thing that the Dad had to knowing what his son was going through, or something like that.
SPY-V's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:30
SPY-V
dude that political rant was just a little too much. way to spoil an awesome story.
Solozaur's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:32
Solozaur
This is really touching! I got a bit of tears in my eyes(yeah yeah - i'm a carebear!) last night when i was reading this news!
liam2015's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:37
liam2015
@Sexualchocolate
Take that shit somewhere else
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:40
Cartman
@ Sexual

Although you may be right about why they're there, you don't know what would happen if they weren't. I'm not saying I support what's happening, I just have alot of respect for the men and women fighting in the army, whereever they are.

And for you to say that "soldiers die because they've been lied to by the government, not for any other reason" seems very disrespectful. It's not like they're machines who have been programmed to fight by the goverment, they know what they're doing.

Stop acting like you know everything about this and that you're in some kind of position to make judgements.
FalconReaper's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:45
FalconReaper
That is touching
gatorsax2010's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:52
gatorsax2010
Stories like this always get me.

Also, @sexualchocolate, your theory is "interesting," but they went to Afghanistan before Iraq.
Hollie Bennett's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:55
Hollie Bennett
He was my friend. We went to school together. Hung out together. We played CoD together. I miss him. I still haven't got over the fact he is gone and that I will never see him again.

He was my age. only 22. I keep crying when I read things about him.
The Prodigal Son's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:57
The Prodigal Son
@Mr. Sterling:: He probably took the disc out before placing it on the grave (cold streak of cynicism here too).
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 09:58
Jon B
@Pheonix-blood
Sorry for your loss, man.
boots555's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:00
boots555
This is very sad....I'm going to go play some games with my dad now.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:00
Sexualchocolate
Minor details Gator. my timeline may be off, but nevertheless they've been spouting the "sleep safe in your beds" and "war against Terror" lines for so long now and they're both straight up lies.

The people of the Western World have nothing to gain from a victory in Iraq or Afghanistan.

I have the ultimate respect for those who have lost their lives in these false wars, but I strongly believe they shouldn't have lost their lives and they shouldn't have even been there.

"Naturally the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a facist dictatorship, or a parliment, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same for every country."

- Hermann Goering - Hitler's Reich-Marshall.
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:05
Cartman
@ Pheonix

Really sorry to hear that
dephect's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:06
dephect
@Sexualchocolate - Tool.

Seriously, way to take a heart felt story and just taint it all up in the comments section with your rants.
shogunu's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:08
shogunu
Rest In Peace, Private Richard Hunt.

And, Sexualchocolate, time and time again you have proven that you're the village idiot of Destructoid.

First of all, how can you claim that our countries "are not at risk" when in the last 10 years thousands upon thousands of innocent people that try to go on with their daily lives have died in attacks against American, European, African and Asian cities by the hands of Islamic extremists?

Second, it's true that the US have helped those regimes against the USSR but what's wrong with that? As someone who was born and has lived a great deal of years in an ex-Communist country i can tell you first hand that Americans were right to help stop the spreading of Communism.

And third, you're a 9/11 conspiracy theorist? Now that would explain your idiocy.
socialnorms's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:31
socialnorms
I'm with you, Shogunu. These guys are bitching from the comfort and abstract reality of their couches in high school or college. They've probably never even left the U.S. They have no idea how most of the world lives or what is at stake.

And yes, all that 9/11 Zeitgeist shit is for real NooBs. Read some history instead. And grow the fuck up too.
Kefka's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:41
Kefka
Ouch, that rant is going to make someone upset I'll wager.

On topic, this is a sad story on one hand, but I get a nice feeling from the dad's actions here. Of course, no dad wants to out-live their boys, but terrible things happen.

It makes me wish my dad had EVER played games with me. RIP 'Hunty' and my best wishes to dad and the rest of his family.
Ganjookie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:47
Ganjookie
Phoenix-Blood

Sorry for your loss. have you spoken with his dad to maybe play a game with him at all?
VWGTI's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:50
VWGTI
Man, I feel so bad for that dad. :(
Fantasy-XIV's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:53
Fantasy-XIV
That's really nice of the farther, I'm guessing they played Call of Duty with each other. I doubt that anyone will steal it, heck modern warfare 2 is coming soon so everyone wants to play it, not some one year old game.. erhm...
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 10:54
GoldenGamerXero
Poor bastard... I hate the war as much as anyone but a story about a dead soldier isn't the place to discuss a thing like that. Not to mention that no matter what your position on the war is you should at least be respectful to the people fighting it.

@Phoenix-blood

I'm sorry to hear that. From what I can tell he was a nice guy and no one should ever have to lose their life that young.
DJDuffy 's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:08
DJDuffy
Hollie, sorry to hear about your friend again, I can't even imagine how rough that must be :(
Tha Meat's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:11
Tha Meat
This is a very sad occurance yet I get an unsettling feeling in my stomach over this story that isn't connected to the bond between a fallen soldier and his father. Its because the father chose to leave a copy of war game on his grave. Granted playing the game was a bonding experience between a father and his son, the narrative created of a son dying during battle and his fathers choice to honor/remember him through a war game placed on his grave is too powerfull to ignore. This just seems like a story that will be overlooked, where this memorial may be a clue to truely understanding current gaming trends and the oversaturation of war games in our current society.
bunnymud's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:20
bunnymud
What children we have here. I smell twenty-something college communists.


And nothing can be more ignorant than that lot
AaronLindes Neighbor's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:21
AaronLindes Neighbor
I support sexual chocolate. Yes, the war in A-Stan was and is all about access to oil pipelines locations for the wealthy oligarchy of the Brits and Americans. Thanks for reminding people why we are there. Keep rubbing their noses in it.
Shadowiii's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:22
Shadowiii
Oh come on, we all know Sexualchocolate is trolling this because it was the XBOX version of Call of Duty : WaW and not the PS3 version. Why else would he ruin a story with over-the-top anti-war propaganda? (for the record, I am certainly not pro-war, but I know better then to spew my political bullshit in threads about a man's son dying)

Touching story. I wish the best for the family.
M-Extra's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:29
M-Extra
Anyone who is turning this into a politically charged bitchfest should back the fuck off. This is an incredibly touching story, and I'm glad I read it, even if I'm terribly sorry that it had to happen. I also wish the family the best.
kytanos's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:36
kytanos
I agree with M-Extra. Dont drag it out of context. their are forums for politics.
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:42
WarZombie
@ devilcrack

Fuck you you racist asshole. The views of a few don't reflect the views of a nation, and if you didn't have your head so far up your ass then maybe you would realize that. Jewish people never directly did anything to you, so stop talking shit and don't put ALL Jewish people into one group. There are people living in Israel that don't want this war like many of us here, so don't put blame on them for something that they don't even want.

You have every right to be an ignorant douchebag, but how about you don't put every Israeli in the same group next time you have a hissy fit about the war.

On topic, I feel for this guy and his family. I don't agree with the war, but I respect what all these soldiers are doing. I wish it didn't have to happen, but this is really touching and
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:42
WarZombie
*And I wish the family the best.
aZZmodan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:42
aZZmodan
What Sexualchocolate said.
TewDee's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 11:47
TewDee
Well...this F'ed itself in the A right quick. =/
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 12:01
Jim Sterling
Wow. All we need is for someone to add, "I don't like the brown men," and this thread's fate will be sealed.
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 12:06
WarZombie
@ Jim Sterling

Sorry if I contributed to that, but he was asking for it.
Kefka's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 12:13
Kefka
@ Tha Meat,

So what if his dad put a 'war game' on his fallen son's grave. You know as well as I do that playing war games didn't kill his son. So don't even go there.
XanderSan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 12:19
XanderSan
It's a touching story. I never really connected with my dad in the past with much, but both film and games helped bridge this kind of awkward gap between us, and I'm glad someone else had that kind of connection with their son.

Though since this is the internet and we're dicks here; There's always prestige mode right?
Electrium's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 12:27
Electrium
That's such a touching, bittersweet article. Even if I wasn't a gamer, I'd be touched by this. People should be more respectful and take their trolling/critique of governments elsewhere. Regardless of whether we should or want to be in a war, we are, and tragedies such as this happen. Maybe that makes you angry, I can understand, but please...don't stir up hate over a dead man's grave.
Im OK's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 12:36
Im OK
Well, I was going to comment about how this was a touching story and all, but then Sexualchocolate made his comment and now I'm not going to touch this thread with a ten-foot pole. I mean, even Godwin's Law has already been proven to be true once again. Yeah. I'm out.
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/24/2009 13:28
Usedtabe
My condolences to the family. And to you also, Phoenix.


And people, look no further than the Che/Fable article to see the extent of SexualChocolate's idiocy. He tried to pass off Castro/Che as heroes, but after being called on his bullshit he never uttered another word. Trolls make me laugh, but SexualChocolate is such a fucking retard that I wish I could "block" his comments. I have no problem with different opinions, but when idiots pass them off as fact without a shred of RELIABLE evidence, it's a totally different story. Hey Chocolate, let me guess your sources. Are they HuffingtonPost or MoveOn.org by any chance?
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