HAVERHILL | When Michael O'Neill heard about the capture of Alex Jimenez in Iraq, he began praying for a different fate than his son suffered.
Evan O'Neill, 19, of Haverhill, a member of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, was killed Sept. 29, 2003. O'Neill, a private first class, was trying to prevent an ambush of his platoon | and his efforts helped save the lives of 23 of his fellow soldiers.
"We're all praying he comes out of this OK," Michael O'Neill said yesterday of Jimenez, who serves in the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division, the same division Evan O'Neill served with. Evan was in the 1st Brigade.
"As soon as I hear the 10th Mountain Division was involved in anything, I'm paying close attention," Michael O'Neill said.
Jimenez, 25, an Army specialist, gained the attention of the nation this week after reports that he was among several soldiers captured by al-Qaida in an early morning ambush in Iraq on Saturday.
Michael O'Neill and his wife, Barbara O'Neill, of Haverhill were at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School yesterday for a dedication of a memorial the school created to honor and remember their son | a 2002 Whittier graduate who was killed trying to prevent an ambush of his comrades by Taliban guerillas in Afghanistan.
After the ceremony, Michael O'Neill talked about the latest news from Iraq and how it hits close to home.
Evan O'Neill grew up in Haverhill with an appreciation of the military and of public service. His father was a decorated Army paratrooper during the Vietnam War and is a longtime Andover fire lieutenant.
John Doherty, retired veterans agent for Andover, talked about Evan during yesterday's memorial dedication.
Doherty told a crowd of more than 100 people who gathered in front of the school that Evan was greatly bothered by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, particularly because many of the victims were public safety officers like his father.
"His reaction was not a knee-jerk reaction, it was part of a plan," Doherty said. "Evan thought deeply about everything in life."
Merrimack Valley
Father of slain soldier prays for Jimenez's safety
- Merrimack Valley
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Health violations issued for historic Osgood Street property
Andover officials have issued numerous health-law citations against Susan Odle, owner of this historic pre-Revolutionary property at 116 Osgood St., over the piles of full trash bags piling up around the property.
ANDOVER — A broken-down mini-van filled with clutter, beat-up furniture and weathered toys are scattered across the historic Osgood Farm property.
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Neighbors have said the unsightly materials have been piling up in the yard and inside the home at 116 Osgood St. for years. But the latest addition — hundreds of full trash bags in the front yard — has become a cause for concern for many of them. -
Still moving in the same comfortable rhythm
Editor's Note: In the spirit of Valentine's Day, The Eagle-Tribune asked readers to tell us stories about their lasting relationships — how they worked through the challenges over the years and kept their love healthy and alive. The series continues through tomorrow, highlighting compelling stories of Love's Enduring Promise.
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Sending the kids away: Strikers' children went to safety in Vermont
When Salvatore Savinelli was just 4 years old, he hopped on a train bound for Barre, Vt., with 35 other children and his father as the group made its way out of the city in the midst of one of the biggest strikes in U.S. history.
Continued ... - Vermont town proud of its role
- State officials asked to investigate Adams
- Love's Enduring Promise: By Peggy's side
- Despite new law, local towns say no to GIC
- Mass. schools suspend thousands under 'zero-tolerance'
- Don't print that
- Pets of the week
- Community calendar
- Saturday, February 11, 2012
- Early morning, two-alarm fire on High Street, Haverhill drives family out of house
- Back on the home front
- Marine gets big welcome
- Gym damage forces shift of voting site
- Five candidates to run for Andover's top board
- Burglars hit fire damaged home
- Church celebrates renovations, anniversary
- Couple caught stealing $889 in groceries
- Man charged with hat theft
- Man arrested after chase
- Friday, February 10, 2012
- Spanish class exchange lets LHS, Phillips Academy students discover common interests
- Write your own success stories, students told
- State of city deadline missed again
- Retiring moderator's advice: 'Stay out of arguments'
- Man facing child porn charges said that he attended Merrimack
- Lantigua fails to file campaign finance reports
- Methuen, Lawrence Democrats to elect state convention delegates
- Councilor withdraws customer service crackdown
- Moran planning a run for 17th Essex Representative
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