Senator Jim Webb SOTU Reponse

I just ran across this and thought I'd share...someone was asking about Webb's son...

And still you second-guess the voluntary decisions of your "children".
In the 1800s we saw the heartbreak of families torn asunder by war, brothers, even fathers and sons on different sides.
One need look no farther than the family of Senator Jim Webb to see the conflict that is tearing this nation apart played out again.
While the father wears his son's combat boots on the campaign trail and calls for the troops to come home, the son fought fiercely to get onto the field of battle and fight a war his father doesn't believe in:
"For me not to respond to the country's call, I'd be letting myself and the history of my family down," said Webb.
Watching the battle of Al Fallujah on TV from his campus, Webb decided he had seen too much of the war in Iraq from the safety of the United States.
Webb made his decision to leave the University in December of 2004, and began working with Marine Corps recruiters to find his way into the war.
"Watching the coverage of fighting in Fallujah showed me that I needed to be out there," said Webb. "Enlisting in the Marine Corps was the fastest way to Iraq."
Webb officially enlisted in January of 2005, graduating from boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., in May.
Shortly after arriving at the School of Infantry for advanced training, Webb was invited to take an indoctrination to become a reconnaissance Marine.
While attending the advanced schools of reconnaissance, however, Webb became ill and was forced to end his training.
Although the battalion was willing to keep him on board to later finish his training, Webb was faced with a difficult decision. Webb was proud of his chance to become a recon Marine, but his desire to deploy ultimately swayed his decision.
"I was looking for the fastest route to Iraq I could find, and the Recon battalion wasn't scheduled to leave when I would finish training," said Webb.
Webb was separated from the recon battalion and attached with the first deploying infantry unit available.
On January 9, 2006, Webb became a rifleman for 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, which was scheduled to deploy to Ar Ramadi, Iraq later in the year.
Now halfway through his deployment with 1/6, Webb has experienced much of what he watched in college and is content with his decision.
"I was relieved when I got to Ramadi," said Webb. "Now, I've done my part."

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