My Son Is Going to Baghdad

[dogday]

In 3 weeks. He received his orders months ago to go to Afghanistan and two days ago he had been designated to go to Baghdad and he is going to Fort Hood for training, which bothers me. I have been upset about him going, but relieved he was going to Afghanistan, but now they are sending him into the thick of it. I will at least get to see him at Fort Hood before he leaves.

With all of the news of Cindy and her great crusade, I have been aware of death and dying and I am trying to stay on the positive side of this.

What do they train you to do at Fort Hood? Anyone know? Any information would be appreciated. I am afraid they have pulled him out of communications and put him in infintry...

[Maddy McCall]

1. My prayers are with your family, dogday.

:hug:

[steve2470]

2. God be with you and your son nt

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Prayers and good thoughts to you and your family.

:hug:

[4 t 4]

4. Don't Let Him Go!!!!

[Walt Starr]

5. Fort Hood home page

http://www.hood.army.mil/fthood/

[dogday]

13. Who usually trains at Fort Hood?

Fort Benning is were his signal communications school is, and he had orders to report there before he received these new orders.

Now he is going to Fort Hood which I am worried he is going to be put in infantry since he is excellent marksman award. Can you tell me anything that you know about this, anyone?

[Walt Starr]

16. I was a Radio Teletype Operator in the 80's

Signal Corps members are assigned to all units. I was in an Artillery Headquarters Brigade.

He's probably being assined either to the 1st Cavalry Division or 4th Infantry Division as a Signalier (radio or whatever). One need not be a tank driver or an infrantryman to be in the division and he is probably assigned in support of one of those divisions.

Not sure which is going to Baghdad, though.

There is also the TRADOC Test and Experimentation command, which could be where he's being assigned:

http://www.otc.army.mil/otcweb/TEXCOM.htm

[Modem Butterfly]

19. Armored infantry

Everyone has to choose a primary and a secondary MOS in the Army. It sounds like Armor was his secondary.

[HeeBGBz]

20. Myself and a friend were electronics/signal corp

My friend was stationed at Fort Hood for a while. It may be an electronics thing or they may just be doing extra training for the situation in Iraq.

[lildreamer316]

6. MYy thoughts are with you

and your son. I don't know what else to stay.

[seabeyond]

7. i am sorry. we will be here for you. ask for anything you need n/t

[w8liftinglady]

8. You know I'm with you.

I can't tell you much about fort hood.It IS a big infantry fort.God bless you,and I'll be holding your son in my heart(along with mine)

[SteppingRazor]

9. Maybe so, maybe not...

Fort Hood is a HUGE base (one of it's nicknames: The Great Place), and they train for all manner of assignments there.

On the other hand, it's mainly known for trianing and housing armored divisions.

In any case, whether your son goes to Baghdad or Afghanistan, the real question is his assignment in those places. For example, Baghdad's Green Zone is a lot safer than rural, southern Afghanistan. So, I'd take a wait and see approach for now.

Wishing you and your son all the best.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. Just an observation here,

I never thought I'd hear someone say "relieved he was going to Afghanistan". But I understand your feelings. Holy fuck! What a sign of the times.

[dogday]

24. When I first posted months ago about this

everyone was saying well at least it is Afghanistan and not Iraq. And I pretty much assured myself that he would be ok, not a fighting job but a desk one in a compound.

But this, this sounds ominous to me, this sounds like he is going to war, right in the thick of battle and I am no longer sure of anything....

[w8liftinglady]

27. I totally know the feeling

I,too was relieved when my son did his first tour in Afghanistan-I figured he had "done his war time"..and would be relatively safe in germany for a couple of years.He has,since then,done 6 months in Iraq(which Rumsfield was kind enough to point out -does not count as a "deployment" to the military),three months in Germany,and is now doing 12 months in Iraq.I hate these f*ckers.

[AzDar]

11. Bless you and yours....I am always hopeful that this madness will end soon

...and everyone will come home, where they belong.

[WeRQ4U]

12. Bless you and your son. You're both very brave people.

[Taverner]

14. My prayers, thoughts and heart is with you

[ernstbass]

15. You will be in my thoughts Dogday

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. You and your family will be in my prayers *hugs*

[Modem Butterfly]

18. My brother was stationed at Fort Hood during the last one

He was armored infantry.

I will keep my fingers crossed for your son, and for all the sons and daughters who are over there.

[Pithy Cherub]

21. May goodness and mercy follow you and yours!

Does he have a critical specialty that is under represented in the current troop configurement? Wishing you and your family only the best! :hug:

[Voltaire99]

22. Options?

First of all, my sympathy in this hard time.

Is conscientious objection an option for your son? Filing for CO status is a risky, yet viable, option for some people.

He can also simply refuse to go, in which case the penalties will likely be stiff. Yet facing the devil's bargain between jail and serving in this war, some will choose the former.

No parent should have to go through what you are experiencing: it is a burden beyond justification, and knowing it is happening makes any decent person's blood boil. Best wishes for your son's safety.

[jane_pippin]

23. My thoughts are with you and your son

:hug:

[KarenInMA]

25. Good luck to both of you.

:hug:

[Solly Mack]

26. 3rd Signal Brigade is at Hood.

(((((((((dogday))))))))))

Wishing you and yours all the best!!!!!!

[johnnie]

28. My thoughts are with you

I have a dear friend who has a son going in December and I can't really comprehend her complete fear and sadness. I can only support and console her and listen.
Please hang in there and know that many many people support you and your son. Keep being positive about it and in no time you will be here talking of your son being home with you.

[steve2470]

29. I hate to sound like a commie bomb-thrower but....

is there any way he would consider either 1)skipping the country or 2) going to prison (but at least he'd be alive) ? I know this is easy for me to say from the comfort of my palatial apartment (/sarcasm off) but it's just a thought.

[etherealtruth]

30. Wishes for safety and peace ...

... to you and yours. As well, as to everyone else, asked to sacrifice for * and his evil cabal!