This is just dreadful. I cannot imagine this mindset. How horrible.
Stupid Dartmouth woman fell for the “Officer and Gentleman” fantasy world. If I was in the military I would keep an arms length from women with Ivy League or similiar degrees.
Having seen the effect of such letters in Vietnam
I can think of no more self centered selfish act.
My USMC son dating and in love with a wonderful young woman. They are discussing marriage but he does not want to be even engaged until he gets deployed.
He wants to see if she can handle deployment. I think that is a wise move.
I know it sounds niave, but I’m always shocked at how evil human beings can be.
At base camp in Saudi awiting transport back to the states in ‘91 there was a loud report, and we found there had been a suicide amoungst the other personel at the camp.
A young Marine’s wife had sent him a dear john porn video.
I have seen worse.
Banks accounts cleaned out, kids gone, house sold and Daddy got home without a clue on what was going on...
The Marine lost nothing when he lost his (wife). Notice that it was HE who stood up with his son when his son entered the Naval Academy.
Somehow, as I was reading this, I saw the face of Cindy Sheehan throughout.
My ex is somewhat like this. After 14 yrs of Marriage, she filed for divorce when our son turned 3. These days, some women are convinced if it isn’t all about them, it isn’t right.
OMG. I don’t know what else to say. Only that I hope this soldier found someone to live a happy life with.
The shallowness of this woman is so obvious, even her son (who no doubt loves her), has seen it and chosen another life.
I’d tell her “Hey, bee-yotch, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.”
Unbelievable!!!
She’s a cupid stunt, yet there were many like her during DS/DS who did worse.
One of them happened to be engaged to a buddy of mine who had made the mistake of giving her power of attorney. Imagine having absolute authority over a person’s life while they’re deployed and the liberties one can take. She did.
My wife told me that a lot of the spouse’s meetings held at Nellis turned into BMW (bitch, moan and whine) sessions.
It takes a special breed of woman/man to be married to a service member and make it work. Sadly, it appears that this article will only embolden those contemplating this instead of working to salvage their marriages.
A similar thing happened to a close friend of mine when he was deployed during Desert Storm. 8 months in and he gets his letter. There is a word that rhymes with witch that describes her and women like her perfectly.
Years ago, I noted how military officer’s and NCO’s wives tended to be somewhat overweight, and not particularly attractive, until you get to know them. Again, for the most part, they tended to be caring, affectionate, loyal, friendly and loving of their partner.
The light dawned as to the wisdom of these men in selecting wives who have what *matters*. Their work was hard, often in places far from home, and they craved and needed a woman they wanted to come home to. Who helped them relax and feel comfortable and at home. Who would be a good mother for their children, and who was strong in the face of family hardship.
And for the most part, these couples were joined for life.
Sounds like what happened to me. The love of my life sent me a “Dear John” letter just 2 months before I finished my enlistment in 1992. It was horrible to have survived my enlistment, including the stress of Desert Storm.
(I didn’t get sent to the storm, just trained many who did and had many of my closest friends get sent over.)
The original writer is too shallow to contemplate. I hope her former husband found the love of his life after this woman walked out. I also hope that her new Marxist husband begins to act like all the other selfish, self-centered brats who took the same road.
Reading some of the comments from the Salon article, I want to be sick...
“Volunteer soldiers enable voluntary wars. Why do we continue to cheer them as they get off the plane?”
“Beautifully written. Authentic and genuine.
Until most of us can accept the truths on which you touch we are doomed to war and the waste of what we and our sons could be.
“I know that there is a subculture out there, especially in the midwest and southern US of A, that idolizes soldiers. I don’t understand, and I am trying not to judge. But this story gave me the cold shudders. This woman equates soldiers with a kind of rugged sexuality - maybe accurate, so many are beautiful young men. But I remain grimmed right out. Valor. Honor. What do these words mean in action?”
“Soldiers should be compassionately left and told why
for their own good and the good of those their choice would put at risk of harm.
Someone who would voluntarily enlist to kill and risk being killed for the sake of a “country” is simply neither emotionally nor mentally ready to function as a partner or parent. Saying no is an act of both love and pacifism.”
Disgusting.
wow