My Son and War

Painfully typed in from the American Legion Magazine, Vol, 156, No. 1, pp. 30-31 | January 2004 | Frank Schaeffer

[Pahuanui]

I also have been paying close attention to what is going on in both places.

It is well that you pay close attention. I commend you for this.

I have a son who just left Iraq that has been there for 13 months.

I trust that his homecoming will be a joyous event for you both.

I have another son who is in the Stan.

May I assume you are a military family?

I have been getting phone calls from them on a regular basis. Our little town is one of the first stopping points for returning troops and I have had the opportunity to talk with dozens of them.

Quite frankly, given how little I know about you, and how little you know about me and my sources, so what?

We have had close to 200 flights come through here.

And?

You can listen to the view of the liberal press if you want but I trust the people who fought there to tell me what is going on.

I am not so stupid as to listen to either a 'liberal' press or a 'conservative' press. I listen to the soldiers I know, who are there now and who have been there and returned. IOW, I have the same sample base as you do.

I have talked to all ranks from joes to generals and they believe in the mission.

That's nice.

When I talk to my friends who've been there, their collective opinion doesn't match what you're apparently talking about.

They see improvement in both countries.

I can only hope and retain faith that they do. Mine sources don't.

They know it will take time to complete the mission but they know they are up to the task. Many will gladly return when called.

They ought to. Our men and women in service should hold no other opinions in this regard.

The nurses returning from Ramstein kept talking about the wounded who just wanted to get back to their unit not back to the US.

And this is a some sort of revelation to you? They are trained that way, and rightly so.

They have seen the devastation and horror of war but they know their mission is the right thing to do.

Perhaps, for those to whom you've spoken.

I know, up close and personal, all about what war is about and what it presents to an individual soldier. I do not presume to think that because people you know have a certain opinion, my experience, and that of those who I know, is somehow invalidated.

[sauropod]

I think you need to re-poll your sample population. Something's wrong. And I don't think it's armymarinedad.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Wow. I am truly sorry about all the loss in your family; I am also sorry to read of such bitterness in your words. You have my sincere condolences.

My husband's grandfather was an only son. His photos show a strikingly handsome man with a great smile and a twinkle in his eye. He was married, and the father of an almost two year old. He was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese stormed into our country and had a turkey shoot with our unsuspecting military that Sunday morning. He was aboard his ship when he perished.

When his two year old grew up, he marched himself right into the US Naval Academy, and made a career in the Navy. His son, my husband, spent his childhood watching how proudly and selflessly his father served. And when he was old enough, he too, joined the Midshipmen in Annapolis.

When I was brought to his home to meet his family for the first time, one of the first things we did was spend hours looking through old military scrapbooks. I was shown old medals in the display case, and toured throughout their home to hear the meanings behind every picture on their walls...most of them military. We were married in the USNA Chapel.

You see, I believe this country needs great people defending her. It is the responsibility of us all. When people let their guard down, or feel some entitlement to pass on defending her appropriately, we place her in danger. My husband is still serving today in our USMC Reserves. He's also an airline pilot, with the skill and military training to throw your plane or any being threatened into some acrobatic maneuver he'd long ago learned in NATOPS. He's very blessed to have been born into a family who is proud of their sacrifices.

Dare I say, that the curse is not something the US military has allowed into your house. IMO, it is the bitterness and anger you won't let go of. I think they are clouding the reality and faces of those people and things which have threatened us as a nation throughout history, and not "[our]army and wars."

I will pray for you. Having your insides in so much turmoil will only lessen your days.

[Pahuanui]

I think you need to re-poll your sample population.

Sir, I do not need to to do so.

My sources are good, and I not only trust their honor and honesty, but I eagerly await their return to safety and the succor and warmth with which their respective families will welcome them home.

They are my brothers, one and all, and they cannot possibly return a picosecond too soon.

[armymarinedad]

Quite frankly, given how little I know about you, and how little you know about me and my sources, so what?

Because you don't know much about me and I don't know much about you I thought I would give you a little background rather than just spout off. I find that friends are usually like minded people. That's great if all you want to do is just validate your opinion. My "sources" are a wide variety of the military. All branches including guard and reserve, with varying MOS.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[bjcintennessee]

Thanks for posting this great article (and for taking the time to type it -- you did a good job).

As a Navy mom, I am appalled at some of the comments made here. My son joined the Navy on 9-28-01, 9-11 having influenced his decision.

My husband and I just returned from a "Tiger Cruise" aboard his carrier (an awesome experience, BTW), and I have never been so proud of my son and our military. They believe in what they are doing; they believe the sacrifices they are making are necessary and are serving a good cause.

When Americans speak out against the war, they don't seem to realize how this affects the morale of our troops, or how it bolsters our enemies.

[stevie_d_64]

This is also something to keep in mind for any FReep in any city where this group and others are going to be whining about this very thing...

I'll just tuck this back into the memory bank and review it before the 20th...

Later,
Steve

[SuziQ]

Well, there are people in those countries who were freed because of the service of your family members. Not all results of good deeds are seen immediately, and sometimes, not at all by the person doing them.

I am grateful for all who serve in the defense of this country.

[2nd amendment mama]

Pinging to read later.....

[LADYAK]

Yes, you still have to register.....not sure why but if they implemented the draft tomorrow guess they would start drawing numbers.....have a good one.

[Burkeman1]

How old are you? Why have you not joined Chickenhawk?

[sauropod]

I look for their return as well. Their service was an honorable thing.

[sauropod]

Then my post was successful ;-)

[sauropod]

Y'all might be interested in this post.

[Copernicus]

Posted to *bang_list

[optimistically_conservative]

38 yo. with 17 years active duty and a committment to 24.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Tiger Cruise BUMP!!!

"When Americans speak out against the war, they don't seem to realize how this affects the morale of our troops, or how it bolsters our enemies."

[M Kehoe]

Good post. What I find odd about this article is that in our family, we were expected to join the service...war or no war. I guess times have changed.

5.56mm

[AgThorn]

Like myself, most military parents honor the fact that our children took an oath to serve. Most of us are more patient than members of the chattering classes who write editorials about how our American policy is failing in the Middle East. Most of us know that even if it does fail, we must still try to transform the breeding grounds of hopelessness, terror and oppression into places where freedom and human rights are given a chance. Most military parents know that World War II lasted almost five years. Germany took 20 years to reconstruct. We still have troops in Korea, Japan and Germany. We know that the Middle East is a complex mess and that the chaotic "crescent of instability," stretching from the horn of Africa through the Middle East and all the way to Indonesia, cannot be allowed to continue breeding violent anti-American terrorists.

Great piece!!! Parents of all our military unite!!