This is cross posted on BNO, please forgive me for that.
Ladies and gentlemen, I must submit an apology for my conduct.
As an extenuating circumstance, I offer this:
In 8 days and a wake up my son will be going to Basic at ft. Sill. After that he's suppose to go to Ft. Leonardwood for AIT.
As an MOS he (or rather his recruiter) has chosen the dreaded 88M, http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/mos/transportation/88m.html (http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/mos/transportation/88m.html)
I've been dealing with a bunch of stress on this issue, mostly because he thinks he's still bullet proof, (he'll be 27 in July), but he has a baby on the way, and his wife has been having contractions for the last 4 days.
For those of you who don't know about MOS's or other military stuff, He'll be a truck driver, and in today's world, he will be a 65 foot long BIG TARGET as evidenced by last summers problem at the Pakistani/Afghan border. The original trucks that were destroyed were military and contract fuel haulers.
A truck driver doesn't have a chance. An incoming Mortar or rocket attack is not something you are able to defend from in the cab of a truck.
A target is a target is a target. {{{{POOF}}}
Again, I apologize about some of my bad attitude lately.
Stress can do some weird things to ya, I know...........
You must have done something very right. He is willing to write a blank check to the USA and all of us to keep us all safe. You should be VERY PROUD of him for what he is doing. I thank GOD and all the young ones who are now comming forward to do what us older ones have done before them. May GOD keep him and all our troops as well as their familes and the rest of us safe.
Ed Van
USMC 1958/1964
Dallas I would Echo Ed's thoughts and offer that you have a very speical Son as all the Mothers and Fathers of our troops past and present that have go to bed each nite wondering how there loved one is doing. May the Good Lord in all his Goodness watch over all of US.
Andy
USN 68 to 72
Understood even though I have never had any issues with you Dallas. I'm glad to see your mug around here again!
Dallas::There is not much any body can say that will relieve the pain you will go thru until he returns safe but both our oldest son and daughter were in Iraq during the worst time. The daughter was across the street when they bombed the mess hall that was on the news,had her living quarters mortared 20 minute's after she left for work. The sons duty was classified and we still don't know and he can't tell us. During this time some one asked how I could deal with all of this and not go nuts. My answer was given to me that I was half way around the world and could do nothing but God was there with them and he could. That is how we got through it all we gave them to God and believed they would come safe and they did . I hope this helps some it did for us. May god bless this young man.
I am sorry to hear about the new worries, but I never noticed that there was anything for you to apologize for.
I read nothing requiring anything close to an apology, I don't have children so I won't say I can understand your feelings, but I do feel for you. I really hope everything goes well. At 27, he's old enough to make decisions and take risks, I sure hope this is a well calculated one. I don't know what else to say, if I did I'd say something more profound.
Brian
You try your best to talk the kids out of it but they make the choice now nothing like when we were kids and the President sent us his personal letter may God protect that is about all I can say except he will be working for a lousy employer but his paychecks don't bounce
good luck
Allways welcome in my book dallas. I do wish the best for you.
Lonnie
I have seen you in the Chat but not posting much you are always welcome to me. I liked it better when it was Dallas.
IMOP
John
I'M NOT APOLOGIZING FOR ANYTHI....
oops, never mind!
happy coaching!
buswarrior
I concur with Ed about it all. God Bless You and your family!
Newbie here, My son returns wens. from Afghanistan. His MOS was diesel mechanic.When he arrived there 10 months ago,they needed truck drivers,so guess what he did for his tour. As hard as it was to see him go,my wife and O could not have been more proud,of him and all his colleagues. I know this wont help much with your stress,weekly or daily contact with him made it bearable. I hope all is well,tell him thanks for his service,and God Bless
your son is more of a man than i am........god bless him for his service, may he be watched over and taken care of so he may return to his wife and new child soon.
your friend always. Bob
Dallas -
I certainly understand your stress. My son is USAF, just PCS'd back to the States after a five-year tour in Germany. Got deployed twice to the sandbox, my BP went up each of those four-month deployments, then again when his bride got sent down for a four-month tour. Fortunately, both have "behind the scenes" jobs, but, just like PapaTony, you never know.
Like your son, mine was also in his 20's when he made the decision to serve. It was tough on his mother and I at the time, but the both of us were SO proud of him at Basic graduation, and continue to be so. We realize it's a tough choice on his part, but commend him for doing his part.
Hang in there, my friend.
RJ
I'm with Edvan - nothing much of importance is said or done on this or any BBS without the sacrifice of kids like yours - Here's to his safe return, and all the other BBS sons and daughters known and unknown - FWIW
Our son was attached to the 423rd out of Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, CO. 3 years ago his company logged over 600,000 miles and experienced 163 IED incidents. They didn't lose a single man. There were a few serious injuries but they all came home. We were beyond worry the whole time. Send positive energies, prayer, or whatever support you can and leave the rest up to fate, god, or whatever eases your own peace of mind. At this point all a parent can do is provide support in any way possible. Know this... this experence can/will change a young man's life forever. Hopefully for the better.
Don & Sheila
Having a son-in-law with his lil commie flag and Franken sticker in his car window tell me he would go to Canada before he would defend this country, and that he would teach our Grandson to do the same, this post is bringing tears to my eyes. I do not know how to balance the love some of us still have for this Great Nation, against those who arent worth protecting.
I pray that God, the same God our forefathers who gave us this Nation's Laws and Constitution freely and outspokenly believed in, the God of Abraham, the God the Washinton Monument worships on its many steps, the God the Liberty Bell was created to honor, the God we speak of in our Pledge of Alligience that people like my son in law hope to extinguish, the God our sons and daughters swear before when they join our Nations military....I pray that THAT God watches over all our honored children, and brings them home. And while we all know that they wont all come home, I pray they do not die in vain.
You raised a good son my friend, thats something to be proud of. Be VERY proud.
I know this post will probably put this thread in OT. But I just had to say this. And I will NOT appologize.
Dallas,
Please thank your son for his service!
I have only been deployed once, but I can tell you that the equipment used to detect IEDs is vastly improved in the last several years. The Armored vehicles are vastly improved also. Our construction unit convoyed our equipment from site to site, and were both careful and fortunate that they encountered no IED's. IEDs are the biggest threat.
My son, who is active duty Air Force for 4 years now has yet to go.
Steve Toomey
pabusnut
Fort Lost in the Woods, ahh, such fond memories ;D Be proud Dallas, a lot of heartfelt thanks and prayers go with him, will & wife