Author Topic: Ben's coming home from Iraq!  (Read 588 times)

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Offline Land_Owner

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Ben's coming home from Iraq!
« on: April 07, 2006, 05:32:21 PM »
There are still 4 surreal and trying days ahead, but God willing, my son and the remainder of his Marine Comapny will be returning to the United States from Fallujah, Iraq by the 12th of this month.  They've been deployed for 8 hard months.  Sadly, three of them are never coming home.  We've been warned by the Marines to expect considerable psychological changes, nightmares, depression, alcoholism, insomnia and a host of "normal" battle related transition behaviors.  Sounds like healthy is going to have a new meaning.

Offline Keith L

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Ben's coming home from Iraq!
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2006, 01:55:02 AM »
Wonderful news your son is coming home!  You and your son will be in my prayers.  I hope he transitions well back into normal.  Won't it be wonderful when we don't have to put our treasured young people through that any more?
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline ButlerFord45

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Ben's coming home from Iraq!
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2006, 03:06:28 AM »
Bless him.  
I'm happy to hear that he's on his way home.  I wouldn't worry too much about his emotional health just yet.  Most are making it home, not necessarily unaffected, but at least unharmed emotionally.  My youngest came home for 2 weeks last month for the birth of his first son.  I assure you I watched closely, he's fine so far.
Butler Ford
He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done.-Leonardo da Vinci
An armed society is a polite society-Robert A. Heinlein
Only the dead have seen the end of war- Plato
Lord, make my words as sweet as honey
tomorrow I may have to eat them- A lady's sweatshirt

Offline Huffmanite

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Ben's coming home from Iraq!
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2006, 04:59:37 PM »
Glad to hear your son coming home.  Wish they all were.  Asked my mother once if she had noticed a differnce in my Father or I when we returned home from war.  Father in Pacific in WWII and I was in Vietnam.  She did not hesitate in saying yes.  Father had trouble sleeping, any noise would wake him.  I had same problem.  Also, the sound of a bullet whizzing nearby will still cause me to instinctively react without thinking.  First happened two years after leaving Vietnam, when a bullet passed well over my head when I was walking across an parking lot of a rural store.  I dove face first on the pavement without thinking, or actually knowing why I had done it.  While I laid on pavement, another round whizzed well over my head.  Seems someone was shooting at billboard sized sign of the store from a great distance away.  You could not hear the sound of the gun, just the bullet.  33 years later, another bullet will whizz past me and again I will drop to the ground without thinking about it.  So, there will be some things about war a person will never forget.  There will be things you will forget in time, and other things you will learn to cope with.  Like my father and I, your son will be OK.  It may just take time.  Be caring, patient and understanding.  Give him his space, but be ready to listen to him if he wants to talk about it.

Offline ironglow

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Ben's coming home from Iraq!
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2006, 11:11:21 AM »
Landowner;
   So glad to hear he's on his way home...My grandson is on his way home also. He spent his tour with a Marine Spec Ops unit in Al Anbar prov near Ramadi.
  My grandson's tour was 6 months..with combat every day..up close and personal.
  He should be home to his bride (since last Easter) in Camp Lejeune about May 3..
 
   Look over in " Hunting in NY" line titled " a NYer on the way home" to read about just a few of his adventures..
 
  Thusfar, in talking a couple minutes at a time with him..I see/hear no difference..but time will tell.
   Being a solid, born-again Christian and seems to be doing OK..still not interested in alcohol..
  Special challenge, since he is his unit's " designated sniper "...but he had a long talk and Bible discussion with our Pastor and myself..so he seems to be taking the duty he had to do in stride...
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)