Too Close to Home...
When my oldest son was 6 weeks old or so, the United States was sending troops to Saudi Arabia, gearing up for what would become Operation Desert Storm. I vividly remember standing in Mark's parent's living room, holding my newborn baby and sobbing because I was so heartsick that I had brought this baby into a world that was fighting. And not only did I have a baby, I had a baby boy. Visions of the draft, visions of Mamas losing their baby boys, fear that the war would not be over by the time my baby was old enough to have to go fight. While that particular Operation ended, we now are in the throes of another war. A war that has cost our country thousands of lives. Those lives are someones sons. They are brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, boyfriends, husbands, grandfathers.
And my son? Is now safely here with me, but is turning 17 in two weeks. And the military recruitment calls have started in earnest. Not a week has gone by in the last two months that we have not received a call form a recruiter from one branch of the military or another. And my son is looking at the military as a viable option for himself. And while I will support him, my heart goes back to that 6 week old baby that I held and the fear that I had then, which is so much more real now.
My son comes from a long line of military veterans. Some member of our family fought in every war until The Gulf War. We have had members in every branch of the military, including my own mother, who was in the Air Force. I took the Armed Services test and was ready to go into the Air Force as well, but had a very last minute change of heart. I support the military with everything I am. But with my baby? I'm just not so sure...
posted by Marlene at 1:16 PM
4 Comments:
Joseph has already decided to join the Air Force.
Part of me struggles with that, but the other part is proud of him.
(((HUGS))
I didn't know your mom was in the air force!
But I'm with you - I absolutely support the military - but it would be very hard to be okay with my baby enlisting.
Speaking of remembering Desert Storm - it started 3 days before our wedding and I remember vividly being on my honeymoon watching the news reports and getting a little teary myself, wondering what kind of world we might be bringing our future children into.
I am an Army brat. Born at Ft. Carson. My dad may be out of the national army, but he fights daily on the front lines of our city. It's an interesting emotional battle.
I hurt enough knowing that my friends are in the military, in the war. That my boyfriend could be sent to a hostile country (and has been sent) at any moment.
I can hardly imagine how it would feel if it was my child.
David served active duty in the enlisted ranks and as an officer was activated during Desert Storm. Fortunately for my 3 oldest girls and myself, the unit David was assigned to was sent home days before David was to ship out to meet them. Whew!
Julia is set on joining the Air Force. She has about 5 pounds to lose and then she will swear in and get her date for basic training. I'm not too excited about that, but I'm happier with her joining the Air Force rather than the Army. I've convinced myself that she will be safer with the Air Force than the Army.
It is much more difficult for me to accept Julia going off to war than it was when David had his orders to go.
Ugh!
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