Show your support! Who do you know in the armed services?

I am a disabled veteran of the Vietnam war. ..........Donald

Yes...we have lots of family and friends on active duty or in the reserves.

My brother Paul is a helicopter pilot in the Navy, already back from Iraq
My brother Mark is a Navy reserve engineer and range instructor/sharp shooter
B.J. is army demolitions
Cousins in the Air Force stationed in Germany
Friend serving in the medical corp as a doctor stationed in Iraq
Lots of other friends in the military stationed all over the world...

My husband's cousing Travis is deployed in Iraq

Good friend's granddaughter just joined the Navy and is going through basic training now...18 yrs. old...going into law enforcement I hear.

I have a grandson who joined the Army and is going through basic training now.

My son is in Iraq right now - and I miss him terribly. I'm sure his wife misses him a lot more. But, like he told me, Mom - this is my job. There is no issue of whether it is right or wrong - it just is - OUR JOB. I find I can't be quiet when people complain about soldiers over there fighting. They have the right to complain - just don't share it with me!

I don't know anyone one personally but think it is great what theya re doing ! Paula please listen to people who complain about the war a lot of us disagree with it he war but think it is GREAT what these people are doing for US. I will be the first to admit I disagree with the was but I also am not sure of all the details either. I think as I said what they are doing is wonderful and comend all of our soliders but ...please don't get to mad why can't we fix home first and then other countrys? As Isaid don't know the inside details just what I see on the outside . God Bless your son and all the others and I pray they all come home and join us in living a long and happy life!

Former US Marine myself and so is my ex husband, my eldest son just finished two tour of Iraq is and now out of the service(Army), and uncle who was Navy, Father and Grandfather-Army and cousin in AIr Force--some still on active.

Two real good friends, who have been over in Iraq for over two years.
Father who is dead now, three uncles,about a dozen friends all who are died now.
Thanks for the article

I had a cousin who went to Viet Nam. He made it back safely, but I feel it left him emotionally damaged. He's doing well though, I hope.

Im a USAF Vet and my youngest is in the USAF Reserves as a medic. He's in Afghanistan now

yes, a nephew, in the army, he got back several months ago and is now in
Texas. My hubby was in the army and served in the Gulf war. My dad was in the Navy during WWII. One of my brothers served in the army and another nephew in the air force.

My fiancee's brother is in the military. The Marines to be exact. He has been in Iraq, since all this started. He has been able to come home a few times. The last time he was home, he literally freaked out. He would wake up in the middle of the night, asking for his sargent, going outside screaming, wanting to know where his brother(my fiancee)was, getting in the fridge to make sure that the kind of food my fiancee eats was in the fridge, etc...Eventually, he had to go back. They ended up putting him in a mental hospital. The thing that upsets me the most, is that they could not put him in a hospital here, they sent him back overseas, and put him in an army hospital there. He has been diaganosed with Post Tramatic Stress Syndrome. This is tearing up the whole family. He wanted to serve for our country and freedom, he did not ask for all of this.

My childhood friend who joined the Army and while serving in Iraq got his hand blown off while saving numerous lives by throwing a grenade that had fallen in the area back at the enemy. I salute him

My youngest son joined the Navy in February, and I'm very proud of him. He's a hard working, funny, conscientious young man. I miss him terribly because he is the one of our four offspring with whom I enjoy the closest bond. Even as a teenager, he would always hug me goodnight. He and I have a blast talking about anything from Ambrose Bierce to local politics.
My husband's family have several members who are either in the military now or were in the service during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. They are my hereos.

I have a cousin in Iraq.

I was in the Navy and my son's father is still in the Navy. He is stationed in Norfolk, Va. I am proud of him for what he is doing and my son is very proud of his father.

God Bless them All. My husband has cousins over there. I don't know anyone personally

I survived having my son go through two tours in Iraq. He is out of the Army now. He was good about emailing frequently and calling whenever he could.

The thing I missed most about having him there was watching him grow into a man on a daily basis. He joined at 17 and was deployed soon after basic training, within a few months, barely 18. He joined shortly after 9/11 and had a very patriotic response and wanted to help defend our country.

He became a more thoughtful, confident, wiser person; something evident even with the miles and worlds apart. I wish he could have transitioned into the adult world in a non-war environment. I missed not being able to hang out together and talk over the dinner table, going to movies (we are both big movie buffs), and going somewhere for our annual family trips with him.

The second tour was even harder, knowing he didn't want to go back to Iraq. And yet, he kept that incredibly mature, selfless, non-complaining, strong attitude and came through alive and well. How could he not complain? The Army was falling short in providing so many thing. Training for one. They sent him before he was through with advanced training. Or without bullet proof jackets for another. I even had to send basic toiletries to him.

Fortunately, he got through both tours and advance in rank. He wasn't injured physically, but he certainly has signs of PTSD. In fact, six different military doctors diagnosed him with PTSD after the first tour. The Captain who was supposed to sign off for him not to return, refused to do so, and they sent him back.

My son is amazingly not bitter, although he served his four years and took the first plane back home when his time was up. Even so, sounds and images do startle him. There are things he doesn't want to talk about. He gets frustrated at surprisingly minor things, and is more reactive than situations seem to warrant.

I don't get to protect him any more. Perhaps that is what I miss the most. And yet, the trade off is I get to watch him take charge of his life and become his own man. He is not one to bury his head in the sand and is tackling the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life with aplomb and grace. It is taking the military a very long time to provide him with his school funds, and the medical attention he needs for PTSD, but he doesn't give up and he has fallen in love and is creating a full life for himself. I couldn't be prouder.

My Husband is with Special forces and Stationed at Ft. Campbsll, KY. Never really know where he is, unless he is home. God Bless all our MIlitary soldiers may they be kept safe.

My grandson is stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. He waits to hear where he will be deployed. Currently, he has been on funeral duty. The most gut wrenching time he has ever had. Thank you for the tribute to our boys.

retired US infantry (light/airborne), son is 5 year veteran currently in Iraq (Camp Taji) w/1/325 PIR (82D), two retired cousins, Navy and Army Guard, Dad ex Navy, one uncle ex Army, another ex Air Force, two uncles ex Navy....

miss my son mooching in the kitchen and calling to bug me at 2 in the morning...