My son informed me yesterday he has volunteered and was accepted for deployment to Afghanistan. I have very mixed feelings, hence him not telling me until he was accepted...
He makes me very proud. But I am very apprehensive... I have seen too many young men come back from war with serious emotional issues. A co-worker/good friend of mines son was in the 1st Marines he was in the front of the "spear tip" that marched into Baghdad in 2003, he came back with some serious "shell-shock" issues, divorced his wife (after mistreating her) and bounces from job to job. My cousin came back from Vietnam with some of the same issues.
I do come from a fairly long line of military personnel. My Grandfather served in the Philippines as a 50 cal gunner on a tank in WW2. I have an Uncle that put in 25+ years in the USAF (security), his son was a scout in the Army for 20 yrs. My father was in the USAF in the later 1950's. None of this makes me feel any better about my son being deployed to Afghanistan...Personally I had a feeling when I dropped him of at the airport in Oct after being home on leave...that I would not see him before he would go on a "tour"...He is currently stationed in Japan and will not make it home before being deployed in May/June

He probably didn't want you to worry until he was sure. May he stay safe.
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Slap, he will be in our prayers.

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Thanks guys

Update...
My son flew home and got to spend two weeks here...we all had a great time while he was home.
He leaves for Afghanistan on June 14.

Glad to here your son is doing A-OK!

Glad to hear he is doing well and that you were able to spend some time with him before he is deployed again.

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Talkatropolis: If you're going to say it, say it like you mean it!
"RECESSION: When your neighbor loses his job. DEPRESSION: When you lose your job. RECOVERY: When Obama loses his job."

Things hit awfully close to home for me last week. I work for a fairly small company 12-15 employees. Paul is our graphic artist...his office next to mime. His son is also in the USMC and pulling his second tour in Afghanistan. Paul got a call Sunday to inform him his son had been critically wounded...That was all the information the USMC had at the time. As it came to light he had been shot with the bullet passing through his forearm exiting out the back of the bicep (tricep)... He is now in Germany recuperating...then he will shipped back to the US at that point he may be discharged or if he can be "rehabbed" he may return to duty stateside...
My sons Afgan deployment ends Dec 12th...he will then head back to Japan (for another year there then back stateside for his final year).

That's some scary stuff buddy.

Man, that is close to home. How he recuperates and can still use his arm.
It's amazing what these guys (and gals) do to keep the peace and keep the rest of safe.

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Talkatropolis: If you're going to say it, say it like you mean it!
"RECESSION: When your neighbor loses his job. DEPRESSION: When you lose your job. RECOVERY: When Obama loses his job."

They have some pretty tough conditions there...my son has been on the ground there since June working 12-14 hours per day and has not had one day off...he is pretty burnt out at this point...
John the young man that was shot sustained substantial damage to his elbow and forearm.

Happy note!

My son was chosen to drive General Amos (Commander of the USMC) around Kandahar Afghanistan...this will take place tomorrow...He is about wetting himself... lol... he is pretty nervous!
All I could say to his post was holy son how did you get that assignment...His reply... "I look damn good in my uniform" lol

3 weeks and counting until he heads back to Japan!

Very Nice Sl@p.

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Thanks I thought so...I told him to hand his camera to one of his buddies so he can have a photo of himself chauffeuring a four star general, commandant and one of the joint chiefs of staff to boot!

Lol. I think I would be crapping my pants if I was assigned to do that!

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Talkatropolis: If you're going to say it, say it like you mean it!
"RECESSION: When your neighbor loses his job. DEPRESSION: When you lose your job. RECOVERY: When Obama loses his job."

Photo's of my son...10 days left to his deployment

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Some more... The rest can be seen on my FB page...and yes that is him in the crater

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Your Son is coming home and my Daughter deployed yesterday. Prayers to both of them.

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Well he is not "really" coming home...he will heading back to Japan for another year...then stateside in early 2013

Home is where he hangs his hat Sl@p, one thing is for sure, he will not be in that place.

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