How many of us have a son or daughter in Iraq or that has been in Iraq? How do you feel?

Answer 1

I dont have a son or daughter over there..but I had a brother over there and I was scared he wouldnt make it home and he did he is safe and sound at home...he has a lot of problems though he heard a bottle rocket go off and he automatically hit the ground..and now he is almost completly deaf..but he is strong and he came home and thats all that matters

Answer 2

My son was in Iraq in 03/04. I was proud of his choice to serve but I worried the whole time. He doesn't talk about it much. He wasn't fond of the Iraqi's. He's proud of the guys and women he served with. He will always fight for the rights of veterans.
As far as how I feel, well I have mixed emotions, I don't think we should have been there but than again I don't think we could have avoided fighting insurgents in more places than Afghanistan. I think this is one war that will be fought on many fronts and a war we can not afford to loose.

Answer 3

I am in the Air Force and luckily, haven't deployed to Iraq yet (missed few X-mases in a row to go to Saudi -- and have 2 children, so any time I'm away is not very good for me)... But I think whether you're in Iraq or in a 5star hotel (but away from family), the feeling is the same for me. Yeah, it is a lot more dangerous in Iraq but when it is your time, it IS your time -- even driving in the highway is as dangerous as serving in Iraq (statistically, I believe). Now, from my experience -- sad story -- do you remember about the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City? I was stationed at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma when that happened. I worked with a girl (I think she was only about 20) who has just gotten married the weekend before. I can still remember, it was a Wednesday morning. We were at work at 7:30 AM, and our female co-workers were giving her some wedding gifts in the office. Then she just decided that she wanted to do one of her things to do (after marriage) -- which was change her last name to her married name for her social security. So she left few minutes after 8. Then around 9, we heard about the explosion in the Federal building (I think we even felt it!). So we were really worried about her. Then when she did not get back to office or call, that meant that she was still in the building when it exploded. Since we were in the military, we got the call that we needed to get to the site to help the firefighters, police, etc. We were there until almost dawn the next day (plus after few hours rest, we had to go back and help -- we did that for about a week). And yes, she (her name was Cartney), was in the building and did not survive the blast. I still remember that day...
Anyway, it doesn't matter where you are (I thought we were safe in Oklahoma), whether you are in the military or not, if it is your time, it is... (and as I said before, yes, Iraq is not as nice as Oklahoma, and the living conditions, etc., but...)

Answer 4

I don't have a son or daughter in Iraq, but I do have a son who is in the process of joining the Marines. Right now, my heart is in dismay over his decision. I can't begin to imagine what families of soldiers are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with them daily.

Answer 5

I served in Iraq and my stepson is in basic training to be an infantryman right now.

Like any other parent I will worry about him. But I am proud that he decided of his own free will to pay something back to his adopted country.