posted
My brother has been stationed in Iraq for the past seven months. He's a marine, and had the unfortunate luck of being stationed in Fallujah. He's had mortars tossed his way, bullets fired at him and who knows what else. Two days ago he, and his unit, were airlifted out of the area, and he's been making his way back ever since. We're really happy he's back, but the joy is somewhat tempered by the men and women who have died in service over there.
My Mom went out to meet him at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. My Dad has been keeping us up-to-date for the past couple of days, I just thought I'd share the latest email.
quote:Becky met Sam last night at Camp Pendleton. They were late. Originally, they were supposed to arrive at 1:00 in the afternoon but it was a little closer to midnight when they marched into the area. That left Becky with way too much time on her hands. When the troops finally did arrive she had balloons, signs and an Apple Pie. I'm not sure how many signs but it sounded like two or three, maybe more. The pie was somehow related to one of the signs, something about Mom & Apple Pie. Sam immediately gave that to a friend and said "Share!".
There were several groups that marched into the area. Sam was in the first group, but Becky missed him and started looking in the second. She then begain to panic (and yes cry). Somebody asked who she was looking for and they said he was in the first group. She went back and found him. He seemed pleased that she was there even though he was embarassed. When he made a comment about it one of his friends replied "At least she's here."
She has a few photos so you'll be able to see what happened if you like.
Not sure what Sam did last night. He didn't sleep on the entire flight back. He and some friends had plans, but I'm not sure if they're able to carry them out. They're supposed to hook up again on Saturday and have a few plans for things to do during the day and they're having dinner at a restaurant in the L.A. area that one of her cousins manages.
I haven't talked to Becky since this morning, but she wanted me to let you all know what was happening.
posted
'Always glad to hear that another soldier has made it safely home .
I hope that he transitions back into the States fairly easilly - I can't quite explain it, but judging from my fiance's return at least, your brother will be very different in some respects yet still very much the same in others.
That's for a few weeks from now, though.
For now, celebrate .
Posts: 1548 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Hooray for Sam and all the rest of the soldiers! I don't think we belonged there in the first place, but now that we are, I rejoice whenever I hear of another of our fighting men and women coming home safely and mourn each loss.
posted
The thing that I've realized is that I'll never really be able to talk to Sam about how I feel on the war in Iraq. We'll never see eye-to-eye on it, because he was the one who risk his life, and sacrificed his time and his general well-being. He is the one who went to war while I stayed home. He'll never see it from the perspective of anything other than the soldier who was there. He'll be a staunch Bush/Republican supporter for the rest of his life, and I'll just have to watch my tongue at family gatherings.
[edit to clarify that my brother is, in fact, not dead ]
posted
It is great when anyone returns home safely from the war. My dad and brother have been home sence February after being there almost a year. It is true that they are the same, but different.
Posts: 747 | Registered: Aug 2004
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