Father of fallen Texas soldier fulfills son's last wish

Monday, November 19, 2007

(11/19/07 - GALVESTON, TX) -- A pair of flags has helped the father of a Texas soldier killed in Iraq fulfill his son's final wish.

U.S. Army Pfc. Nathan Given was killed Dec. 27, 2006, when a roadside bomb detonated while he was patrolling Baghdad.

Weeks before he died, Nathan Given had called his father, Scott Given, and told him about an idea he had to raise money for the Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston.

Another soldier in his unit sent home an American flag flown in Iraq. The flag raised $1,000 in a fire department auction.

"He said, 'Can you believe that?"' Scott Given said. "He was so excited."

Nathan Given told his father he would send flags home, one especially for the auction at the Brandon Backe charity fishing tournament that benefits the Shriners Burn Hospital.

Backe, whom Nathan Given knew, is a pitcher from Galveston who plays for the Houston Astros.

But before he could send the flags to his father, Nathan Given was killed.

Scott Given forgot about the idea as he dealt with his grief. He was reminded about his son's final wish after reaching out by e-mail to some of the soldiers Nathan Given fought alongside in Iraq with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division.

"I just wanted to talk about (Nathan), and so did they," Scott Given said. "I had forgotten about the flag, but then they asked me if I still wanted it."

The soldiers sent two flags that had flown over a patrol base near Jumbalatiyah, Iraq.

A flag auctioned off Saturday raised $4,000.

After purchasing the flag, the unknown buyer then gave it back to Scott Given, who said the generosity made him "cry like a baby."

The first flag raised $20,000 in another auction.

"It's the last thing I can do for him," Scott Given said. "I wanted to honor his wishes."

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