Son In Iraq

[broncovet]

I am just curious to see if other Vets have sons deployed to Iraq. My son is a baby, not even old enough to buy a drink in my state. Yet, he is in Iraq, in the Infantry, at risk of being blown up by a roadside bomb or who knows what else.

It hurt me putting him back on that plane, knowing he may come home in a box. I just wish I could take his place.

I do remember, being a Vietnam Era Vet, being booed at the airport in uniform. However, when I pick my son up at the airport in uniform, many times people come up to him and thank him for his service. I did not get thanked one time for my service until 20 years later.

Sometimes I think if politicians sons were deployed to wars...we wouldnt have any.

Yesterday, when I took him to the airport, we stopped for breakfast at Bob Evans. The manager insisted on buying me/my sons breakfast. (I told the waitress we needed to have our breakfast served quickly as he was headed for a plane back to Iraq)

Anyway, if you have a son or daughter deployed to Iraq or Afghanastan, I would like to hear your thoughts.

[broncovet]

Thank you all for your responses. Wings Yes I know he is grown up now, but maybe I am not grown up enough yet to accept that he is out of my home for good. He is my youngest and the last to leave home. I think I have the "empty nest" syndrome. I really have no idea of how to deal with it. Cowgirl Thanks for the prayers. Altho I certainly do not deserve it, I know that God was looking out for me more than just a little. All.. I am very pleased that my son does not share my "bad, and often cynical, attitude". If my son does not come back from the war, I will loose more than a son..America will also loose a truly great leader. And I think America needs more great leaders. My son showed great leadership by his willingness to serve. He helped me clean up a mess in my back yard from remodeling my bathroom, and never complained. He also showed Godly leadership by his willingness to honor his parents. Even his friends show great respect and honor to me, referring to me as "Mr. ....Smith", so I knows he even honors me when he is not around me. His friends would not feel that way if he bad mouthed me when I was not around. I cant even tell you how proud of him I am. I am even glad that people come up to him, when he is in uniform, and thank him for his service, even tho they never did that for me when I was in the military (Vietnam Era). I was once "booood" at the airport, probably because of the Mi Lai massacre where civilain women and children were killed. I dont know what happened at Mi Lai..but I am assuming those troops were pretty much just doing their job of defending our country, just like my son is doing. He drives a tank, in the Infantry.

[JustPLS]

Thank you all for your responses. Wings Yes I know he is grown up now, but maybe I am not grown up enough yet to accept that he is out of my home for good. He is my youngest and the last to leave home. I think I have the "empty nest" syndrome. I really have no idea of how to deal with it. Cowgirl Thanks for the prayers. Altho I certainly do not deserve it, I know that God was looking out for me more than just a little. All.. I am very pleased that my son does not share my "bad, and often cynical, attitude". If my son does not come back from the war, I will loose more than a son..America will also loose a truly great leader. And I think America needs more great leaders. My son showed great leadership by his willingness to serve. He helped me clean up a mess in my back yard from remodeling my bathroom, and never complained. He also showed Godly leadership by his willingness to honor his parents. Even his friends show great respect and honor to me, referring to me as "Mr. ....Smith", so I knows he even honors me when he is not around me. His friends would not feel that way if he bad mouthed me when I was not around. I cant even tell you how proud of him I am. I am even glad that people come up to him, when he is in uniform, and thank him for his service, even tho they never did that for me when I was in the military (Vietnam Era). I was once "booood" at the airport, probably because of the Mi Lai massacre where civilain women and children were killed. I dont know what happened at Mi Lai..but I am assuming those troops were pretty much just doing their job of defending our country, just like my son is doing. He drives a tank, in the Infantry.

I know he will be okay, Broncovet. I will keep you and him in my thoughts.