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June 20, 2007
It Came 3 Days Late But It's The Greatest Fathers' Day Present I've Ever Had
Topics: IraqOn fathers' day this year, for the first time in the 27 years of his life, I didn't hear from my son Michael who's been in Iraq for going on now his 4th (or 5th - I've lost count) time . After having lost numerous friends in Vietnam who were short, some losing their lives only days before coming back, and after seeing the same thing happen to troops in Iraq, I've been worried - thinking the worse as any parent would do, but then I'd quickly kick the worry out of my mind not wanting to jinx a hoped for happy homecoming.
So when a phone call came this morning at 03:45, you can imagine what went through my head when my wife woke me up handing me my cell phone with me hearing only the word, Michael. My heart sank like a lead weight had fallen on my chest, I thought it was "about" Michael.
Then, the voice on the phone said, "Happy Fathers' Day Dad. It was my son, and he was calling from home, having arrived at 03:45 this morning, and he was calling from his wife's cell phone. It turns out he had missed calling me because all of his gear had been packed and he had been sent home several days early, with a broken foot.
And that is the greatest fathers day present a dad could ever have - a son home from Iraq, alive. In my mind, five times in Iraq is pushing your luck, especially for guys who serve on counter assault teams in Baghdad now, and in the past, Mosul. Thank God for a broken foot.
As a post script, today in Baghdad a massive truck bomb exploded in a crowded Baghdad square killing at least 87 people and wounded 214. I'm sorry the Sunnis and the Shi'a can't keep from killing each other, and al-Qaeda can't refrain from killing them both. But gratefully, my son isn't anywhere near the explosions - for now.
Posted by Richard at June 20, 2007 4:09 AM
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Comments
Your son, the warrior, is going to need a lot of help, if he doesn't need it right now, in adjusting to normal life.
I suggest you arrange to have a welcome home party with the entire family - a reunion of all from all the States. In this way, the warrior will feel himself, surrounded with love and support. And reunited with the Clan/Family.
THis is a serious matter - and wasn't done with the Vietnam Veterans, and as a result, never intergrated back with the family and community. As you've read, these Returnees had/still have a great deal of mental problems. Problems with family, drugs, the Law, have commited suicide. And some are still homeless.
Don't have 2nd thoughts, do the Community thing. It's a matter of life and death for your child.
Posted by: allat at June 20, 2007 10:07 PM
Allat, your right about the community thing. I did a tour and a half in the Nam myself - Marine Recon, know a bit of what you speak of.
This is Michael's fifth time back from Iraq, and he's already planning to go back again in a couple of months. Our family is very close and all the whole gang of us hang around together - for example, many of us had a big eat out tonight. Fortunately, I think Michael looks on what he does as a profession, it's a job that he's good at and he seems to do a good job of compartmentalizing it and leaving his "work" in Iraq without bringing too much of it home with him as "baggage."
But yes, you're right. Without family and community support, our warriors are left to deal with "baggage" that they need not and shouldn't deal with alone.
Posted by: Richared at June 20, 2007 10:29 PM
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