My son is going to Iraq

[Crankin]

Well, after almost 4 years of avoiding it, Scott is being deployed to Iraq around the beginning of March. Thankfully, I will be back at work around the time he goes. He will be coming to visit us sometime in February, which is good.

I've been spending so much time worrying about myself and my health, that I don't think I can worry about him, too! I guess I have a fatalistic approach; I can't stop this from happening and at least he's not a machine gunner anymore. He's in intelligence and will be assisting a colonel, working with the "locals." We are not allowed to know any more than that.
Please send some good thoughts his way!

[bmccasland]

Robyn - warm thoughts and good wishes headed your and your son's way.

[mimitabby]

Robyn, my best wishes to you and your family. I can't imagine being in your shoes right now. You can come here and talk whenever you want to though.

[Duck on Wheels]

My heart goes out to you and yours! I hope not only that he makes it home safe and sound, but also that he's able to make sense of the whole thing, or at least deal with its not making sense and thereby maintain his inner balance throughout. Best wishes!

[margo49]

Thoughts and prayers from here.

[OakLeaf]

I couldn't say it any better than Duck has. Sending good thoughts to both of you.

[roadie gal]

My thoughts and prayers for your whole family.

Thank you to him for choosing to serve and to you for supporting him. It's a hard thing to do.

[Tuckervill]

Well, after almost 4 years of avoiding it, Scott is being deployed to Iraq around the beginning of March. Thankfully, I will be back at work around the time he goes. He will be coming to visit us sometime in February, which is good.

I've been spending so much time worrying about myself and my health, that I don't think I can worry about him, too! I guess I have a fatalistic approach; I can't stop this from happening and at least he's not a machine gunner anymore. He's in intelligence and will be assisting a colonel, working with the "locals." We are not allowed to know any more than that.
Please send some good thoughts his way!

I'm so sorry to hear that, honestly. Is he married?

My son spent a year in Iraq, during which his baby was born 10 weeks premature, and I wasn't getting along too well with his wife, whose mother was stirring stuff up between us on purpose. Let's just say that 2005 was the worst year of my life. When you're one step away from "next-of-kin", you don't get to know anything...not the first phone calls, sometimes not even the second or third. Add in a dysfunctional family dynamic on her side, I was made to feel that I wasn't even supposed to care if my son had a pillow to lay his head on while he was patrolling the streets of Baghdad and earning a commendations, nor had I, the only member of the baby's father's family nearby, a right to be present in the waiting room while my grandson struggled for life in the NICU.

The bitterness comes with the greatest joy, though, that my son returned home safe (but not necessarily sound), and that little 2 lb 14 oz baby is now 2-1/2 and able to trash Gramma's house with the best of 'em!

Worry is not good for your health, but I'm not about to slap you in the face by telling you not to, as happened to me over and over. Most of the soldiers and marines come back just fine. Remember that.

Karen

[SouthernBelle]

Will we need to arrange to get him a mountain bike?

I will remember him in my prayers.

[Brandi]

Ditto on all of the above! May he be safe, sound and happy!

[Crankin]

After he gets there, I will ask about the mountain bike. That's how he actually started his cycling career.
Tuckerville, he is not married (only 22, almost 23). So, we are the next of kin. He has told me about how much stress deployments put on married couples. Glad your grandson is OK! Marines usually go for 7 months, but he may be there longer, because of his job; they like to transition in the new person to build trust with the Iraquis.
I definitely will look to this group for support, since when I went on the Marine Parents site, it was all "rah-rah" and espousing views that I don't believe in. There is a military family support group in my town, so I will be checking that out. It's pretty unusual for a kid in this area to be in the military....

Thanks.

[RoadRaven]

Oh Robyn

I read that topic and my heart sank - for you, for me, for anyone who has seen a child (or will see a child) head off to a war zone - whether as a peace-keeper, on the front line, or somewhere in between like your boy.

I have four sons... the eldest of whom has just reached "conscription age" (18) should EnZed ever conscript soldiers again. My eldest nephew (nearly 20) has just been accepted into the military as a chef - he heads off to boot camp at Waiuru in a month.

My thoughts are with you and yours. I can only imagine how difficult some of the thoughts racing about your head can be. On the other hand, I also am fatalistic in my apprach to life - things will happen no matter what we mortals try and do to avert them. And going to Iraq might be the most fantastic thing in his life - something he will always remember... intrigue, mystery, new people, food and sights.

Arohanui, Rave

[nonsmoker3]

Robyn,
My thoughts and prayers will be with your son and your family just as they are with all deployed soldiers and the families.

I encourage you to write often to your son. Letters from home go a long way in keeping the morale up for the deployed soldier.

Julie

[ehirsch83]

Robyn,

My thoughts and prayers are with you, I can't imagine how that must feel!
My boyfriend's unit(he is in the national guard) is being deployed in June to Afghanistan, but he does not have to go(unfortunatly, his younger brother passed away a few months ago- so they can not deploy him into a war zone unless he volunteers to go). We went to a luncheon they had for the unit and family and seeing everyone there made me so proud of all these guys, but my heart went out for all of the families.

I will be sending out good vibrations for your son and your family while he is over there!

[lph]

I have a son, and can only imagine what it must be like to see him go off to war. May he have a good and safe and meaningful experience, and come back happy he went!

[Wahine]

You and your son are in my thoughts. I come from a military family. I understand. ((((((((HUGS))))))))

[sandra]

My son spent a year there 4 years ago when he was 22 (23 when he came home.) He didn't have a girlfriend at the time, but he also said how hard it is on couples.

He is now 27 and getting married in March. We keep thinking he will have to go back soon.

I know how you feel. I'll keep your son in my thoughts and prayers. If I can help in any way, feel free to PM me.

[Zen]

I read that topic and my heart sank - for you, for me, for anyone who has seen a child (or will see a child) head off to a war zone...

Change 'child' to 'family member'. Being deployed mucks up the entire family dynamic. it's different for each member and I'm sure it's especially hell for a mom.
Heres hoping he comes home of sound body and mind.

[nancy sv]

I'm sorry.

[GLC1968]

I'm sorry, Robyn. Here's hoping he's back on home turf, safe and sound, sooner rather than later.

[three]

I'm so sorry to read that your son is heading to Iraq. No matter what your views are on the war, getting the news that your son (or daughter) is being shipped off is never pleasant.

Please keep us posted on his status and I'm sure we'll all be keeping him in our prayers.

I may be staunchly against the war and current administration, but I'm 150% in support of the troops over there. I just "adopted" a soldier through a non-profit and will be sending him a letter each week and care package each month. Everything on the organization's site stresses how valuable those letters are and what a difference they can make for the soldier. I (and I'm sure others on here) would be happy to include your son in my weekly soldier letter-writing. It's always fun to get real mail, and I'm sure - especially nice to get it when you're stationed overseas.

Many blessings and prayers to him, and to you.

[sundial]

My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your son. I have so much respect for the men and women who make daily sacrifices to ensure not only our freedoms, but those who are struggling for theirs.

Semper Fi!

[mountainchick]

Robyn,

As a spouse of a military member, I know what it's like and thoughts and best wishes to your famliy and him.

Please let me know if you'd like anything for a care package! :)

And tell him "thank you" from us.

[Crankin]

I will let him know that he may get letters and care packages from a bunch of crazy women cyclists. He would love it. If it wasn't for him, I would not be riding. He changed our whole family. Even though he doesn't ride that often now, he still is interested in articles and news of the cycling world, especially the TdF and other major races. He is a really good runner now (5 min. mile) and swims really well, too. I see triathalons in his future.
When I get more information, I will post his address, etc.
Thanks, everyone. Although I am very proud of him, it is hard for me, ex-protester who spent most of her teenage years marching on the Boston Common.

Robyn

[Triskeliongirl]

Hi Robyn- just know all our thoughts are with you hoping for his safe return home. As a mom, I really can imagine what you must be feeling right now. Feel free to come here for support anytime you need to. And I do appreciate your reply to the post about my son. -e

[sbctwin]

{{{{Robyn}}}} I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

[Mr. Bloom]

Robyn, I really hope you find strength through this and that he'll be safe throughout his deployment.

I'm really hoping this will be over soon:)

[susan.wells]

My sincerest sympathy goes out to you and your family. I have two sons both in their twenties so this hits very close to home. It is incomprehensible to me how you must feel. May he return safely and soundly.

[KnottedYet]

((((Robyn))))) I'll keep you guys in my thoughts.

[sandra]

I meant to ask, when is he going? Do you know where he will train before he goes? (I'm wondering if he will be here in Mississippi at Camp Shelby).

[Crankin]

He doesn't have an exact date; it will be in March. I think the base you are referring to is an Army base, he's in the Marines, at Camp Pendleton.

[Bad JuJu]

Thinking good thoughts for your son's safe return!

[sgtiger]

(((((Robyn)))))(((((Scott)))))

My thoughts are with you and yours. Please send Scott a thank-you for serving in our military. I appreciate all that he is doing for us. Thank-you Robyn and others with family members who may be deployed for all the amazing support you provide for your soldier(s).

~Soo

[Crankin]

I am amazed by the kind words of everyone. We are doing fine; we try to be very pragmatic about the life Scott has chosen. He has always been the "outlier" in our family, but he is smart and funny as h***. The dedication he showed while racing is now being shown in his career. Of course, being the Jewish mother I am, I just want him to finish college...

I am going to the local support group next Tuesday night.