National Guard LIED to my son again

[Mari333]

told him he would get his discharge papers, he served his 6 years..NOW they say he is not able to leave,put a stop loss on him, has to go over to the Sinai desert...and then who knows where
I hate this fucking country I hate this fucking country

[juajen]

1. I am so sorry

under what law can they detain a soldier who has already served six years? I don't understand.

[Mari333]

3. Its called the Stop Loss

they can stop a soldier or Guardsman even after they have served their whole duty time and keep them in...total bullshit...and now they lie and tell him last month he could be discharged...today his seargant calls and tells him he wont be discharged after he served his 6 years..he will be sent to the Sinai or sent to some fucking camp in Indiana...
he says Im sorry Mom...I say BULLSHIT...Im Bush's worst nightmare now.

[leanings]

16. In times of national need...

it's right there in the enlistment papers.

[Mari333]

21. National Need????? Halliburton and Bechtel NEED$$$$$

thats all!!!!

[leanings]

30. I'm sorry, that wasn't directed at you.

I was just attempting to explain how they were being extended. I'm sorry for your distress. The military is just doing as it's instructed by it's civilian commanders.

[qb]

2. This is so insane - I am sorry for what you and your son are going through

If the "National Guard" is going to continue policing the other side of the globe instead of looking after security here at home, shouldn't they rename it the "International Guard"?

[Bandit]

15. Or maybe Gestapo

:shrug: Why aren't they home protecting our Nation as their name suggests? I have so many questions with no answers.

[Spazito]

4. I am so sorry to hear that...

my thoughts are with your family.

[wryter2000]

5. Shit

I was afraid from what some of the former military people said here that this might happen. Don't send him, Mari. Send him to Canada or somewhere.

[Mari333]

12. I cant MAKE him leave the country

he believes the bastards...thinks they will give him the option of going to the Sinai or the camp in Indiana...he also believed them when they told him they would discharge him..I told him...for gods sake get a dishoronorable discharge dont trust these bastards...
This is a bad day a bad bad day.
If they send him overseas I will leave this country for good and never come back.

[Renew Deal]

6. Please notify any local press that will listen. n/t

[grasswire]

10. and....

...contact your senator and your representative, both local and federal. Raise some hell with them.

[La_Serpiente]

7. I know how you feel

Those dipshits in Washington are sending my best friend MY BEST FRIEND EVERY SINCE I WAS 12 to Iraq...and I'm 19 now. He didn't even sign up for this...I say BRING IN THE FUCKING UN ALREADY!!!! I don't think any National Guard unit signed up for this...that's why it's called NATIONAL Guard NOT INTERNATIONAL GUARD!!!

[no name no slogan]

28. some price to pay, just to get an affordable education...

I had something similar happen with a good friend of mine back in 1989, when he was sent to Panama to help with the Noriega overthrow.
We were both 19, and had been best friends since we were 13. His orders got screwed up when he enlisted, and instead of going into Airborne training he ended up in Fort Polk, LA. Three months later, he got sent to the 'Ma, three months after that, we had a war.

He saw the 3000 people in the slums behind the Presidential Palace get killed because a stealth fighter missed its target-- he told me about it, a good two years before the gubment fessed up. It totally mindfucked him, and his personality was WAY different when he got out. Very scary.

[jpgray]

8. The conosolation would be there are many like you

Concerned parents of soldiers like yourself ARE Bush's nightmare.

[Fish Eye]

9. WTF..??

this sucks. sorry to hear that your famil yis being screwed by this fucked up mess!!

This pisses me off!!!!

Have you contacted your elected representitive yet??

[patdem]

14. Fish Eye...ever hear the term 'Ya ol fish eye fool'? NOT YOU !!

but I had a neighbor from the DEEP DEEP South who had a 4 year old son who used to say 'ya ol fish eye fool'...it was the cutest thing I had ever heard..that was about 20 years ago, so you can tell what an impression it made on me! :bounce:

[Fish Eye]

19. I've never heard that one!

good one...

[Mari333]

23. Im calling Sen Levin tommorrow

lot of good that will do but Ill try..Im also going to get a hold of some local press and ask them to cover the military families against the war..
In the meantime Im terrified..fucking Sinai says the Guard AFTER they lie about letting him be discharged..excuse me, but whats next...another LIE and he is off to Iraq..
thats why Im terrified..The Guard lies once, they can lie again......

[notadmblnd]

40. The Sinai?

Thats Egypt, I wonder what we're gonna do there?:wtf:

[FauxNewsBlues]

46. I have done the Sinai Tour

It is actually a pretty cushy assignment for the most part. After the Camp David Treaty, a buffer zone between Egypt and Israel was created in the Sinai pennisula. A UN force is stationed there permanently. It is a 6 month rotation though. It is supposed to be active duty infantry battallion doing the job though. My guess is that they are switching over to a guard unit, so that an active duty unit can be rotated into Iraq as opposed to relieving the unit ending their 6 month tour in Egypt.

[Cha]

11. I'm So Sorry, Mari! I wish you all the Best of Luck!

Bless those Reservists, anyway! But how the heck to get out of them when the time is UP!?

[this_side_up]

18. For the active duty

people, I've read that even when they get out, whether it is
after 4, 6, or whatever years, they are still subject to
being recalled for x length of time after the discharge.

That is in addition to the Stop Loss time period.

I'm wondering if this recall also applies to the Guard and
Reserve people? Does anyone know?

[Mari333]

25. Stop Loss is what is keeping my son IN the Guard

His discharge was supposed to be in Nov...now they wont give it to him...say he cant leave after 6 years of duty...fuck them!!!!!!!!!!!

[Clark Can WIN]

31. When you talk to the press

Make sure you put it out there that this is almost the same damn thing as a draft. He is not in there now because he wants to be and thats a fact.

I think it says a lot when they are facing such a mass exodus. Keep raging and rallying on his behalf. Scream until you are hoarse.

Our prayers are with you.

[graham67]

47. It's called

inactive reserves.

[Maine-i-acs]

13. 150,000 troops

could do a hell of a lot of good right here.

All those NG men could be guarding our airports, national landmarks and borders. Then go home to their families at night.

Regular army and SpecOps could be massing in Afghanistan to wipe out Al-Quaida and Osama for good.

[atreides1]

17. Usually

The StopLoss program only affects certain MOS's(Military Occupational
Skill). Some of the people on my wife's intel unit were placed on StopLoss. Luckily for them it was lifted, one finally retired, and others left the service.

It could be that he is either in acritical MOS, or they have finally decided that putting boots on the ground is more important. They just
activated an Air Defense Unit for duty in Iraq. I don't recall any reports of Iraqi aircraft attacking coalition troops. So that leaves
the need for bodies, and it does not matter what their job is.

By the way if he is assigned to the Sinai, the unit there is a peacekeeping force. They have two main bases, one in the north and
another at the southern tip of the Sinai.

Also, by law mandatory military service is 8 years not 6. That was changed back in the mid 80's. So it would seem that his recruiter lied to him first.

[leftchick]

20. Mari I am so sorry for your family....

Can't he become gay? Like overnight maybe? I will advise my sons to do that when the time comes. Or perhaps test positive for something like pot? Or would they arrest him? Shit, I feel so bad for you all...
:(

[Mairead]

22. Electing Dennis is the fastest way to put a stop to this crap

And possibly the only way :( :( :(

[cmd]

24. Mari, I don't know what to say

I've been following your posts about your son for weeks. I was so happy when I heard he would be able to get out. I was also deeply suspicious abut it happening. I'm just so sorry. Please let me give you a hug. :hug:

[Mari333]

26. Heres the deal

If I lose my son, if he is lied to, sent over to a place that kills him, I will kill myself.
Thats the truth. I wont go thru that again. Been there already. Wont lose a son and survive. I wont.

[Cha]

27. THen he can't go!

You poor thing! I know you're workin' hard on it before it could happen Not waiting until he goes over there.

[nostamj]

29. I believe that DU could do something about this

first, Mari, my heart just breaks for your pain and rage. I think about my nephews (13 + 14 years old) and I am terrified for them.

If these monsters are not stopped, there will be no employment options other than to fight in corporate 'resource' wars.

second, if you (and he, I guess) are willing, DU has the resources to PUT A FACE on the 'stop loss' horrors going on all over the country right now.

there are SO many people here who could focus and spread your story. a call-in to Guy James; a grass-roots email blast; cross-coverage on sympathetic sites; an interview with Buzzflash; a mention on BartCop;

by putting a specific face (yours) or two (your son as well) I believe you'd have a good chance of reaching major media.

it is when an issue is PERSONALIZED that it can most reach people. a number is hard to care about.

a mother and her son put it into focus.

obviously, this is your call Mari.

I believe DU will respond.

do not give up without a fight. please.

nost

[nostamj]

32. kicking this....

if Mari wants to put the wrath of DU on this.........

[Junkdrawer]

33. Perhaps he could follow the example of his Commander in Chief...

Seriously, what is his specialty? Is he front line or support?

[Mari333]

36. National Guard Infantry

Im putting up a 20 foot banner in my yard right now outside that says

323 DEAD over 1400 wounded
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW

if my neighbours dont like it they can kiss my ass

ps have to do something to work out this anger

[nostamj]

37. did you read post #29

I know DU can put a national (even international) face on your anger

check your PMs and if you'd like to talk... let me know.

[Junkdrawer]

43. Do you belong to a church?

If not, have you looked into your local Unitarian Universalist church?

[Junkdrawer]

49. The reason I ask is that, were I in your circumstances...

and I was contemplating Civil Disobedience, these are the people I would want to talk to.

[Postman]

48. Have you called the local TV media?

try to get your areas TV stations to cover your banner in the yard and then let them have it with both barrels..

[jody]

34. AWOL et al are abusing guard/reserve troops to avoid draft before election

[Junkdrawer]

35. Yep. And they're lying to us all about the steep drop in recruitment...

A week or so ago they said "6 month targets have been met". Then, in the fine print, they said "but there has been a noticeable drop last month..."

[Changenow]

38. Where are the twins these days?

And has Chimp started eating sweets again? Bet he ended his "fast" on the May first end of major operations day.

[nostamj]

39. ??????????

but :kick: anyway.

?????????

[Postman]

41. Maybe if he goes AWOL for a year he can become President.

...I forgot, that only applies if your name is Bush.

[nostamj]

42. it really isn't funny

at all.

:kick:

[bloom]

44. I am sorry - I remember when you posted that he was going to get out

I guess they are known for lying. The military, that is.

:(

[knight_of_the_star]

45. Kick

This is utter bullshit. Something HAS to be done about it.

[Junkdrawer]

50. Kick

:kick:

[MCVet]

51. Every contract is for....

....8 years.
Some active, some reserve, some "inactive" reserve.

When you sign it, if you read it, it clearly states just that.

I served 18 years, still serving.
I've been active and reserve. There's nothing more inconvenient than to be "mobilized", when in the reserves.
Total interuption.

BUT, as one serves and becomes part of a unit, one learns to "want" to be there, for the sake of one's comrades.
Regardless of the reasons behind the war(s), I will always go.
I will always go, because I feel a responsibility to the men of my unit. I want them to come home safely, and feel that my presence will help that be so.

This last one was my second mobilization within the last two years.
It sucked, but I'm the one who signed up for it.

[lostnfound]

52. Here's a few groups you might be interested in..

First, there's Military Families Speak Out, which I've heard good things about, as a supportive organization for people who are opposed to the war that have family members in the service. Maybe it would help to channel your anger into activism through a group like that; in any case, it has got to be a comfort to be able to talk to other people going through the same kind of things.
http://www.mfso.org/

Next, there's a couple of groups that might be able to help if your son wants to avoid actually serving in a war. This article describes how several hundred soldiers have applied for conscientious objector status in the first 4 months of this year:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Hundreds_US_soldiers_041503.htm
It also mentions a group CCW (Center on Conscience & War) which will help soldiers, at no charge, by answering their questions about CO status: http://www.nisbco.org/ Such status leads to less-than-honorable discharges and potentially even some time in prison, but there are people who have gone through this who say that the experience was 1) preferable to dealing with the aftermath of war and 2) the beginning of a new way of life, building a new strength of purpose and conscience into their lives.

If your son really was 'lied to' about the conditions of his service, there's a legal group that might be able to help. http://www.nlg.org/mltf/

I have no personal experience with any of these groups so I can't recommend them; I've simply heard speakers from some of the groups on the radio.

I understand that you must be terribly worried; please know that we are with you in spirit hoping (and some of us praying) that your boy will stay stateside and/or stay safe.

[nostamj]

53. MARI333!!!!!!

Guy James wants you on the his show tomorrow.

your story deserves to get out.

check your PMs.

[nostamj]

54. one last try.............

hope you're OK Mari333...............