Stories from frontline families

Your Assignment: Frontline families.  Are you or a loved one serving in the Military?  Was the training appropriate for the tour of duty - too little, too harsh, just right? How is your local community responding to the war effort?  How does this military service affect your family?

Your Reports:

Overflowing pride      
My husband (CW2 Robert J King) is with the 101st Airborne Division based out of Fort Campbell, Ky.  He is stationed at Camp Spiecher. This is his second tour of duty to Iraq. …I'm proud to be married to some one who defends his country willingly. I am proud that he made this a career choice. The Army takes a lot of getting used to but there are so many programs available at Army Installations to help families of deployed soldiers. These programs help families cope with long-term separations. I know from personal experience that it is very hard to be soldier's wife. It has its rewards and down falls but some people don't look at that aspect of military life, it's always the bad things that the media always hears about.

As a wife and a mother of two, deployment can be a very trying time. We get by at first, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day then week-by-week by then it all becomes a blur of passed time. Before my children and I know it (by keeping a positive attitude and ourselves busy) my husband will be home again. My children love their "Daddy"; I love him not just as a husband but also as a soldier who has a job to do. I love him for the values he carries with him. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and the Personal Courage he carries with him that spills over to each and every one of his soldiers. The same compassion and understanding he shows his family back home. For my husband, his Unit has become his family while he is deployed. I love him with all my heart and I am very proud of him.
--Karen King  

Three-year-old son of a soldier
Editor's note: The author was at Fort Campbell, Ky., in late October when the following happened. Her daughter is a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division:

"Mommy?"

My three-year old grandson bolted out of his bed, his hands stretched up to grab around the silhouetted figure in the hallway. I couldn't move fast enough to restrain him, but the kind woman gave my little grandson a hug anyway.

"Mommy? My mommy?" 

He saw the figure, the outline of the hair, but not the face.  His mommy, as we all knew, was still in Iraq and wouldn't be home until January.  I gently pulled him from the woman's legs where he was holding on and still saying, "Mommy." The woman thought he was being friendly; I knew he believed for one heart-shattering moment that his mommy had finally come home. 

My tears flowed as I placed him back in bed and comforted him. He could not tell me of his terrible disappointment, his confusion, his sorrow.  Instead, I soothed him with "Sweetheart, Mommy is still far, far away.  She is still flying helicopters. She'll be home in many, many days."  How do you draw "many, many days"?  How do you draw "far, far way" to a three year old?  How do you explain war? Danger? Insurgents? People who are determined to kill her because she is a soldier?

He got up and walked into the living room where his father slept on the couch, and crawled under the covers.  I went to my bedroom, and through half the night, sobbed because I hurt for him, this little three-year old son of a soldier.
--Margo Ungricht, Lehi, Utah

Hard times, but proud times
I have just finished reading some of the postings about Frontline Families. My family also is one of these "Frontline Families" and has been for the past 5 years. My brother was in the Army for four years and was deployed multiple times. Those four years were some of the hardest times of my life, but also some of the proudest. Like so many others, he also was critically wounded, but God chose to spare his life and my family is so thankful. It angers me when I go to the mall or just out in general and hear people cutting down this great country and our President and troops overseas. How dare they stay in their comfort zones and be critical of the very people who are protecting them! Even though my brother is out of the Army now, he is now serving as a police officer in Ohio and will always be proud of his time spent serving his country and his president.

The other member of my family that is still in the military is my brother-in-law. He is serving in the Marine Reserves and will be deploying again very soon. He will leave behind my sister and their three precious children. This will not be his first deployment and probably not his last. However, you will not hear him complain, as he would have it no other way. My sister is extremely proud of her husband, as is the rest of my family. We count it a privilege to support him and all of our other troops that protect our country both here at home and overseas. Please remember both the men and women that serve, and yes it is a SERVICE, to protect us and also their families. Sometimes I think the families are the forgotten heroes at times. I challenge you to do a random act of kindness for someone who you know has a loved one serving. Mow their lawn, bake them cookies, or simply say thank you and offer them your support. Freedom isn't free and should not be taken lightly. Our President is doing his best at running this country...ask yourself if you would like to be in his shoes for a day. I for one would not, but I will do everything to support him, especially pray for him and his family. So, from one proud college aged American I salute our men and women serving, and am praying for them AND their families.
--JoEllen Smith, Altamonte Springs Fla.

Small town family
I have no biological family serving our great country at this moment, but the small town of 1,500 people that I come from has at least 25 of it's hometown best protecting us each and everyday. The spirit and support of our community to the families of those serving is overwhelming. I am very proud of all who are serving, either in Iraq or elsewhere. We all should be. A special thank you to them all, especially my best friend, SPF Jason Boe, who is about to return to Afghanistan for a second tour. God bless you and keep you safe, come home to us soon. You and all the rest of our nations heroes.
--Julie Myrstol, Big Timber, Montana

Staying strong important
My father was in Kuwait when the war started in 2003. He is now back to Iraq for his second tour. Every day, I watch my mother doing her best to keep busy to get through the day. Because of her, I was able to understand what it would be like to be an Army wife. My fiancé is also deployed and it has been a challenge every day and every moment that he's been gone. I can't pick up the phone to call. I can't be comforted in person when I'm having a bad day. I always wish he was there for the silliest moments to the worst. I have to do everything by myself. There's not a day that goes by without wonder or fear of what might come. I would never recommend this lifestyle to all women/men. You'd have to be strong for yourself AND your significant other. You have to be able to get through being alone for most of the year, sometimes with little contact. It's a tough role, but in the end, I feel it's all worth it. Best of all, I am very proud of them. I hope the year goes by quick, so they can all come home safely. Until then, it will always remain a challenge.
--Marisa, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Taking comfort from family support
Stationed here in Baghdad, Iraq, it is interesting to see the perspectives in the other blogs that reflect care and concern for loved ones that are over here. The best thing my family does for me over here is stay strong. It is comforting to know that they are able to take care of the homefront and maintain the status quo despite the sacrifice of departure.
--S. Smith, Baghdad, Iraq

Focusing on confidence
I guess every generation has its big war. My grandfather fought in WWI, dad was in WWII, I did Vietnam and now my sons have been in Iraq. When I was a boy I was proud of dad and grandpa. I thought war was heroic, like in the movies. When my time came, I was naturally nervous about my own survival, but I felt that I was in control to at least some extent, so fear did not overcome me. When my sons went to war it was different. Maybe it was the parental urge to protect, but whatever it was, I worried more about my boys than I did about myself when in 'Nam. It was a sense of powerlessness. I was affected greatly by news coverage from Iraq, first claiming that we failed to initiate the invasion prior to the spring dust storms (we "waited too long") and the follow-up stories about sandstorms affecting our invasion. Later, when it became politically chic to argue that we rushed into the war, the "sandstorm" stories conveniently vanished, to be replaced by car bombings. My sons came home. Their stories from Iraq were largely at odds with the news coverage, but I do not want to get into that discussion. The important thing is that my sons felt in control of their future, just as I did when I served and I guess my dad and grandpa did when they served. When I change focus from my sense of powerlessness to a confidence in my sons, it helps get through the tough times when they are in harm's way. My job is to make sure I support the troops, and trust in God. Maybe this will help some of you who also feel that same sense of anguish or inability to protect our servicemen and women.
--Mark Menser, Ft. Myers, Fla.

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