A 50ish friend of mine being deployed to Iraq

[Cheswick2.0]

He has two kids in college and one in HS. His wife works as a teachers aid for about 7 bucks an hour. He has his own business as a consultant. He is being sent to Iraq or possibly Afghanistan for as long as 18 months.

He is a very decent guy, responsible and dedicated to his family and community. He was the leader of the trip to Haiti I took 2 summers ago. We went to help build a medical clinic.

The mission commitee at church has decided that we will make sure his family is okay no matter what. I am just furious they are sending him. He is in the reserves so this will hit him hard in his financial situation. I am praying he fails his physical, but he will probably pass it.

[Walt Starr]

1. Is he a Reservist or National Guard?

It would be worse if he is former military being called back.

[Cheswick2.0]

2. reservist

how does that make a difference. I am not up on all this.

[Walt Starr]

3. Damn, that's what happens when one stays in the reserves

and PNAC bastards are in charge of the country.

They could get me back in the military, but they'd have to draft me to do it and I'm 40 years old. I'm not even IRR any more.

[movonne]

4. Another a family values program....

[DeepModem Mom]

5. My nephew, January 1, Iraq....

just heard.

[salin]

8. May he stay safe

and not witness things that change him forever.

Good luck to him, and to all who love him.

[leftchick]

6. The husband of my sons's teacher was shipped out in Sept......

He is in his 50's also. National Guard, 2 sons in college, one of whom is profoundly deaf. My heart breaks for this woman and her family daily yet she is so stoic. I also have a cousin who is a Sheriff's Deputy in upstate NY, late 30's, married, three young children and is Army Reserve. He came back from Baghadad for two weeks and is on his way back there now..... This is sickening, Good lord PLEASE rid of us the BFEE!!... :cry:

[jumptheshadow]

7. Please keep us posted

Tell us if there's anything we can do.

I hate to hear stories like this. I want to say something awful, but it would be against board rules.

[Fleshdancer]

9. My brother too

He returns to Iraq on January 1st I believe.

[Malva Zebrina]

10. Really sorry

He is at a point in his life where he should be planning for his retirement. If it depends upon the military--well what can I say? I am sorry he is in that postion- but he is signed up to defend his country--which has little interest in his children or his family. He signed up to defend us all--and we paid him to do so. I am so sorry that he has to obey an insane commander in chief, who was AWOL himself, at this point in his life. Really sorry. That is sad. The only thing left to do is to make sure that his kids do not sign up. Make the kids aware that the military, although it's tease is irresistable, does exact a responsibility--and that is, for all of that benefit, you can and you will be called to leave your family and put your life on the line for warhawks, for warmongers, and for an AWOL commander in chief who wants you for the benefit of his buddies and his business buddies to make a profit off of you.

Sometimes I an convinced that teaching one's children how to survive, is best when using a Randian approach. Keep them out of the military, folks. At this point of the game, the military is being used for imperialistic purposes, solely. Your children are NOT and will NOT be in the position of defending any kind of FREEDOM at all.

[Cheswick2.0]

11. Thank you so much to everyone who responded

I would not mind so much if we were actually at war to defend our country. For a middle aged man to be sent off this way for bush's oil war. It is just beyond me how the country can't see what is happening.

To all of you who have loved ones and friends in similar situations, please know that my hopes and prayers are also with you and your family.