Different kind of POD

[Bonibelle]

I know this is not hot tub related but the Iraq war has impacted all of us in some way. This was the front page of the Wilmington Delaware News Journal this morning.  My cousin is the young MP leaving her husband for Iraq. It is very upsetting. She joined the military to get an education...
http://delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/NEWS/706190372

[cooltoy2000]

Hope she stays safe, and my hat's off to her.

[Shawnm]

I know this is not hot tub related but the Iraq war has impacted all of us in some way. This was the front page of the Wilmington Delaware News Journal this morning.  My cousin is the young MP leaving her husband for Iraq. It is very upsetting. She joined the military to get an education...
http://delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/NEWS/706190372

Bonibelle,
Please don't take this the wrong way but no one should joined the US military to just get a education. When you join you are a soldier first. I have been in the Marine Core for 15 years I was in Afghanistan for 11 months & Iraq for 16 month I just got back in the states 4 months ago. She will be fine. Be proud that she is serving the US military & keep her happy by writing her send a lot of pictures. Yes it is hard to leave but it is are job. That is why we joined

[Bonibelle]

I know you are right Shawn, but the military does entice recruits with the promise of education. Her mother claims that is why she joined. I know she does a good job and is a model soldier, so hopefully she will be safe and this whole mess will end soon. I guess I wish the picture was of a happy family reunion.

God bless you for serving and for helping me feel more positive about this.

[wmccall]

My nephew made it back and endured one road side bomb. I'm just hoping now, he doesn't have to go back. I'll be at his wedding next month.

[anne]

My brother is on his way to Beirut. It drives me nuts worrying abut him, so I just have to assume that everything will be ok, and that he and all the people around him are trained to do this.....he has lost several good friends, and wanted to go back. My thoughts are with you, Boni

[Spiderman]

She's definitely getting an education in the military.  I sure did in the Air Force.  I know how you feel.  Although I was single while I served, I saw so many others of our flight having to say goodbye to their families when going to the gulf.  Not an easy thing to do  

[wmccall]

My brother is on his way to Beirut. It drives me nuts worrying abut him, so I just have to assume that everything will be ok, and that he and all the people around him are trained to do this.....he has lost several good friends, and wanted to go back. My thoughts are with you, Boni

I really try to keep politics out of this forum, and will continue, but we are sending Amercian forces to Beirut?  As part of a multinational force?

[anne]

Well, my brother is a SEAL so he's dong things that are not necessarily directly part of "the war"..... I didnt think to add that detail, but your are right- not trying to mislead anyone here!!! I guess everywhere he goes is dangerous, but I just think of Beirut as a hotter spot than he's been recently, so it seemed analogous.

I'm not into stirring up politics, I just felt like the thread meant something personal to me. Sorry!

[wmccall]

Well, my brother is a SEAL so he's dong things that are not necessarily directly part of "the war"..... I didnt think to add that detail, but your are right- not trying to mislead anyone here!!! I guess everywhere he goes is dangerous, but I just think of Beirut as a hotter spot than he's been recently, so it seemed analogous.

I'm not into stirring up politics, I just felt like the thread meant something personal to me. Sorry!

That wasn't meant to be a slam on  you, I was suprised by Beirut. I didn't want to open a discussion as to whether we should be Iraq or something like that.

[anne]

No worries!  

  And I had this sudden, irrational fear that I was not supposed to tell anyone where he was going!!!!!!  

[Richs100]

Bonibelle, my prayers are with your cousin.  I agree it is very scary right now.  My brother, his wife and myself had quite an experience with my 17 year old nephew, and the Marine recruiters who had gotten ahold of him, last year.  He had a buddy who was about a year older than him who had joined up.  This kid was parading around in his uniform telling the kids how great it was.  My nephew got all fired up about joining and going off to Iraq.  The Marine recruiter was calling the house constantly and my sister in law was running interference.  Call me selfish or unpatriotic, but I just did not want my nephew involved in this.

Whether we were correct or not, my brother and I told my nephew we did not want him over there, in this war, at this time.  He listened to what we had to say, but it looked like we were not going to convince him.  He was determined that he wanted to join up.  Then his buddy returned from his first tour in Iraq.  He was no longer parading around in his uniform, stirring up the younger kids.  He was no longer talking about how great it was.  When it came time for him to go back for a second tour, he promptly deserted.  It was very sad.  He basically was living with friends and going from house to house.  The MPs found him and now he has to deal with that.  

From our point of view, it was a fortunate wake-up call for my nephew.  He reconsidered his decision and did not join up.  But not so fortunate for his buddy (who is a really good kid, and escaped being injured over there)  but will carry the stigma of being a deserter for the rest of his life.  This war is damaging our kids in many ways, other than the horrific injuries we see everyday.  God bless every one of them. (including my nephew's buddy)

[Bonibelle]

Thanks, She claims that she is good with going as she will serve for the young people that don't want any part of the military. Several of my other cousins are her age and would not want to serve. I just think that Iraq is a life changing assignment, you can never forget the horrors of  war. I just pray it gets resolved and everyone can come home and the people of Iraq can restore their lives.