Little Soldier Girl "Didn't Want to Let Go" - 10-07-09

Four-year old Paige didn't want to say goodbye to her daddy before he was shipped off to Iraq - 10-07-09 -

The commanding officer allowed Paige to say goodbye as her dad prepared to ship off from Fort Dix.

Paige's mom Abby captured the moment with her camera and her aunt passed the image along to a Berks County, Pa. newspaper.

"Ive had strangers looking me up online, sending me messages that they are touched by it ... offering a lot of support," Abby Bennethum told NBCPhiladelphia.

The picture took on a life of its own online this week. Abby says that suddenly, people were knocking on her door. "Literally overnight, there's all these people that just want to do anything they can," she says. Though she says her husband hasn't seen any stories about his family yet, he expects to.

For her part, Paige still remembers how she felt that day in July. Looking at the picture of herself her dad now overseas Paige remembers, "I didn't want to let go of him."

She calls the work he does transporting supplies across the Iraqi border, "just nice."

But that doesn't change her feelings.

"I just miss my dad right now," she says.

Sgt. Bennethum, 30, is expected home next July. Until then, Paige plans to help her mom take care of her little sister and a new baby that's on the way.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Little
• Soldier
• Girl
• Didn't
• Want
• to
• Let
• Go
• iraq
• troops
• america
• president
• october
• 2009
• july
• 09

[tinkmustdye]

Cudos to a Commanding officer who thinks a child needs as much time as he gave that soldier and his baby girl.

[tinkmustdye]

I am 47 years old that picture took me back to a day in 1969 when I didn't want to let my Daddy go to war. God it is over 40 years and that memory still lingers of Dad leaving for 'Nam. It is a scary thing to be a child and know your Daddy may never come home. Dad came home as safe and sound as he could from that war. So from this Daddy's girl to a young Daddy's Girl God bless you and Yours. I was lucky I had my Daddy until 1999. I hope and Pray she has her Daddy for another 50 or 60 years.

[dishywinnie]

Gosh makes it all so real doesnt it - brave men going to fight for the rights of all of us

[TaraAndJessie]

i miss you daddy <3

[MrLanghalee]

i cant believe this clip has 56 dislike.

[ghostgoul007]

Thank all of the soldiers, for their service for our country

[Druidly]

You know he didn't want to let go just as much as her. I hope he came home alright, everyone deserves a father....

[StrictlyBG]

no 009 Soundsystem up in here

[shygirlnow2011]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! thats nice she could stand with her dad!

[smartfix]

This picture demonstrates the compassion that occurs everyday in the military, sometimes the word just doesn't get out. Just think, years and years from now that little girl will be able to look back at this moment, a picture, preserved forever in time.

[MissingLittleJake]

This picture is absoutely beautiful! How could you look at this picture & NOT be proud of our Soldiers? If you dislike this clip, it doesn't say much about our patriotism. VERY DISAPPOINTED in the 51 negative votes! They must not know a Soldier or the family of a Soldier that puts their life on the line to protect our country! How sad!