Local Parents of Soldiers React to Osama bin Laden's Death

Peggy Rhodes heard the news of Osama bin Laden’s death early Monday morning. And her first thought was, it must be a lie.

“I’m surprised they didn’t take him prisoner,” Rhodes said. “Why bury him at sea without proof?”

Rhodes, who lives in Montgomery, has reason to want that proof. Her family has given much to the fight against bin Laden and his terror network. She said she knew several people, including a nephew, who were killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and her son, 34-year-old Danny Rhodes, returned from that country last year after spending nine months there.

Danny Rhodes is in the Navy, but was enlisted by the Army to go to Afghanistan, under a provision that allows branches of the military to pull from other branches to fill ranks for missions.

Peggy Rhodes said she is very glad to have her son home, but feels for those still serving overseas. Despite her skepticism, she said she expects repercussions for the assassination of bin Laden, and believes those reprisals will play out overseas.

It’s been some time since Jack Rosenstiel has felt that sense of worry for a loved one in danger—his son, 33-year-old David Rosenstiel, served in Iraq for a year, from April 2003 to April 2004, with the Army National Guard. But he remembers the feeling well.

“It’s rough, nerve-wracking,” he said. “Anyone who has someone over there, you know that feeling.”

Jack Rosenstiel lives in Plano, but he works in Montgomery, in the village’s public works department. He said he stayed up late Sunday night to hear the announcement of bin Laden’s death as it happened.

“I watched with intensity,” he said. “I’m glad this chapter of events is over.”

Like Rhodes, Rosenstiel said Monday that he had not yet discussed the death of bin Laden with his son, who lives in Yorkville. But he said he is pleased the U.S. was finally able to catch the 9/11 mastermind, and hopes some of the resources that went into finding him can be redirected.

“I’d like to see some of the people (serving overseas) come home,” he said. “If we can stabilize things out that way, maybe those men and women can come home sooner.”