Raw deals for the good guys....twisted logic in a flawed war...Brother, come back ok
My brother in law has it tougher than I do.
I know I rant about the cancer on these pages, but man, he got a shitty shitty deal.
He's in the U.S. Army. Correction- was. He did his time. He did his tours, one in Korea, one in Afghan. He's done his combat time. He missed the birth of his daughter, missed life with his wife and friends, to fight in this mess of a war against "terror".
But the good news came at the end of July. He received his discharge, honorably of course, and came home and started life over. Got in school, looked for and found jobs that wanted him, reconnected with family, friends, got to know his daughter, to know his wife again. Got to hang out at concerts and take out the trash and eat lovingly prepared meals.
And then the word comes a couple of days ago. He has to go back. The Army, you see, never forgets that when you are discharged they can still legally call you back for a certain amount of time. Years.
His hiatus lasted 3 weeks.
In that 3 weeks he demonstrated all the qualities that make him a great guy, a great husband and father. And now he has to put those things aside.
He'll be told to rejoin his unit in 90 days. Then prepare for 15 months of deployment to Iraq.
I know that I and my family will lose lots when my illness finally takes control of me. But in the meantime I get to live life the way I want, for the most part, and my battle is against one enemy I can see.
Not him. His battle is tougher. He disagrees, but in my eyes he's wrong. He has many enemies, including right now the Army. Most are unseen until the shit hits the fan. His life is on hold indefinitely, his opportunities uncovered and started when he was stateside gone, forcing him to find others when and if he returns.
Don't think for a moment he is bitching or knashing his teeth. He is a good soldier, he signed up in a volunteer army, and he's ready to fulfill his entire obligation. I am bitching for him because of his fate, for my family, for my sister, who is also a good wife and stands by him and supports him. I admire them for their dedication to each other and the life commitments they have chosen.
I would not be so strong. I would be on top of a jeep somewhere near the mess hall announcing I was gay, I wanted to sleep with strong MP's. Something, anything to get out of a fight that has gone terribly wrong, misdirected, and muddled with lies and propaganda from our own people.
We in New Orleans bemoan our fate at the hands of the Feds since Katrina. But imagine if you were a fruit stand owner in central Bahgdad....Or an enlisted man in our prestigious war machine. I'll take a bit of water, a taco truck near my workplace, and the closing of my 2nd favorite bar over that shit any day of the week.
All I can say is....please, come back in one piece, brother.
Sharla and Chad, B said this very well! We are here and will always be here for you both and of course Lenora. This is what family does, stands behind you thru the good, the bad and the ugly! We will be here! We love you! Dayna
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I agree Brian! I am sorry Sharla! We all owe your husband! You are in my prayers.
Midge
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must be any empty feeling hearing you have to go back to the war after you have already done your duty, always a hero, but the other hero is fighting for his life, God Bless All Troops /come home soon/ continue your fight against the c i will hear nothing less/prayers for you both ly michelle
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