A thread for our loved ones in Iraq......

[Bouncy Ball]

I thought we could just take a moment to share the first name of a loved one, friend or family member, we have in Iraq whom we are worried sick about right now.

Mine is Scott. Sweetest guy in the world and my husband's brother. He's in Mosul (we think) with the Oklahoma National Guard. He has a wife and two little girls. He voted for Kerry, didn't want to go to this war (was in Desert Storm, too, when he was active duty), but he went anyway. He's very bitter about this and the military in general at this point and has said the first moment he can get out of the guard, he's doing it.

Everytime I read a news story with American casualties I hope it isn't Scott.

Who is the person you are thinking about?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Mine is home

he came back from the line a year ago and promtly retired from the Navy...he got to see Halliburton send tankers in and leave out full... what food for the troops, you have to be shiting me.

His name is Tom, and he is great.


Now PM me with his APO, we do have two care packages that were meant for our adopted troops from the 1st ID. They are home, the two packets are in teh closet and I'd rather send them so they can be used...

(edited to add name and some other things)

[Bouncy Ball]

8. My husband asked him for an APO address

and we still haven't received it. His emails are sporadic and short, to say the least. From what I understand, he's in the thick of things.

I'll PM you when I get an APO address.

[flamingyouth]

2. William

He's an employee's boyfriend, a sergeant with the Stryker Brigade, based at Fort Lewis.

He's in Mosul right now, and he was there on Dec. 21 when the attack occurred. No one heard from him for three days, until he finally was able to reach his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.

To say I was worried sick would be the understatement of the century.

[Bouncy Ball]

7. Oh my God

no kidding. Glad to hear he was ok. Sheesh, talk about scaring a few years off your life, huh?

When my husband was in Desert Storm, he was hurt badly when their Bradley went into a tank trap. There was a breakdown in communication (to say the least) and they sent a chaplain and another officer to my in-laws' house (we were only engaged back then) and told them he was killed in action. My father in law called me to tell me and I was a mess for about 12 hours until they got it figured out that he was alive, though badly hurt, in a hospital in Germany.

Ug.

:hug:

[Robbien]

3. Michael

My nephew. He was excited about going to Iraq because he said he would be part of something bigger, making Iraq a better place. His mission was reconstruction and he couldn't wait to start. His emails the first two weeks were full of hope.

Sixteen months later his emails are short. Basically just letting us know he is still alive.

He is scheduled to come home after the election. I hope we get the same Mickey back that we sent over there. I hope.

[Bouncy Ball]

6. I hope so, too

though an experience like this is bound to change a person.

:hug:

[murray hill farm]

4. My son, Dan

He is 43 yrs old...was in desert storm..and shipped out to do this damn duty right after xmas this year..from what i heard, he is in Kuwait right now...leaving in the morning tomorrow to head north to Mosul. He had planned to be ritired by now..and to move here with his wife to Mexico..but, of course now that is all on hold...he had planned to start a tackle shop here..check out his website..it really is a good one at deepwatertackle.com. thanks for posting this and giving me a chance tojust write this down...i deal with this by trying to keep it at least in the back part of my mind..even though it is there..the worry...every second.

[Bouncy Ball]

5. You're welcome.

I just wanted to put some names to it. So often it's just "troops" or "soldiers" and it's rather personal when you have someone you love there.

I hope for the best for your son.

[Menshevik]

9. My cousin, Jason

He is heading off to Iraq in a week or so...Baghdad. Infantry.

I'm glad I got to see him over Christmas. He was training in Texas from August to mid December, but the army gave the soldiers leave before sending them off to that hellhole.

I hate this war.

[Bouncy Ball]

10. I do, too.

I do, too.

My brother in law did Christmas early with his family because he shipped out December 8. It was sad.

Here's hoping for the best for your cousin.

[Solly Mack]

11. Mine came home in April of 2004. We have friends there now.

There's Pete, a medic. His commander was killed by a sniper a few weeks ago.

There's Monte, another medic, going back in March.

There's Demencius. He's in the green zone.

and many others I know