Is it wrong that I cried when I learned a friend's son enlisted in Marines

[sadiesmom]

I had a busy year with major projects at work, illness, family problems and other friends, I had not visited these people for a year. Now the mother is not the brightest bulb in the box and has thrown in with the conservative movement solely because of abortion, worships GWB, but her son was always bright and did like to engage in thoughtful conversation.
I just can't shake the gloom associated with this, I am sure he will be sent to Iraq and will not be prepared for what he sees. I would like to write him, but don't want to doom and gloom him.
Do you know where I can buy him his own flack jacket?

[MissMillie]

1. My godchild is in Marine Corps basic training right now....

... thinking that the Corps are going to pay for her to finish 4 years of school. Inside I just know that her "reserve" status will change as soon as she's done w/ bootcamp. I hope she'll get to see the inside of a college.

[ashling]

2. No

My daughters best friend from 3rd grade on just joined the army. She is doing basic training in South Carolina. Comes from a military family.

[readmylips]

3. My stepson in Iraq....

He's a real bush-ass kissing kid. His wife is worse, a religious nut. We received E-mail from him, saying that he is really fed up with the service. His promotion has been held up due to the shortage of sailors who can do his job. He's really bummbed out. He's been in the service for 16 years, and this was his last chance at getting his big promotion, and a chance to increase his pay. He has a family of 4 kids. If we don't help financially, they go without since his pay is so small. He plans to retire with 20 years of service.

[Longhorn]

4. I understand your concern. My son is a Marine.

Being a Marine is not all gloom and it's not automatically a death sentence. My son graduated boot camp in January and just finished training last week on computer network systems. He leaves next month for a two-year assignment in Japan.

Whatever is going on in Iraq, our country still needs a strong, well-trained defense and there is honor in being a part of it, regardless of the decisions of the idiots in the White House and Pentagon. Not everyone who chooses to become a Marine is a brainwashed RW-er. My son is a liberal atheist who does not feel out of place in the Marines, where there are others who share his beliefs.

He joined the Marines for several reasons but the primary reason was that he knew they would teach him discipline and responsibility in a very short time -- he was a tad lazy and unmotivated, like many 19-year-olds, smart enough to know it, and too impatient to outgrow it! He was also smart enough to get a really good MOS (computers) and while we were always willing to pay for college (once it was clear that he was serious about it,) he'll have even more choices after he gets out. Though my husband is an Air Force brat and my father served in the Navy in WWII, neither of us was thrilled that he joined, but it's his decision and we support him. And we've never been prouder of him than watching him graduate in San Diego as the leader of his platoon.

If you write to your friend's son, please tell him that you respect his decision, are thankful for his service, and wish him the best. And please write to him often during boot camp, as they really crave those letters. There are several message boards devoted to parents and supporters of Marines. While they are somewhat right-leaning, there's still some good information on there. Perhaps you can recommend them to your friend. One is www.marineparents.com -- I used to be a moderator until I couldn't stand the conservative politics on a board that presumably does not allow politics!

Your friend is lucky to have someone in her life who cares so much about her son!

[sadiesmom]

5. Thank you for your reply

I guess I am getting so steeped in politics that I forget that the odds are with him. His mother said he enlisted because he wanted to get the discipline and he felt a strong feeling that it is an honor to serve his country. He is truly a great kid. I just wish he could have gone to college first, it is the youth and innocence that worries me.

I hope for the best for your son and I will bring this information to the mother, I am sure she will appreciate it and fit right in with the 'politics' of that board.

As far as writing him, my cousin already told me make sure it is a plane white envelope, no card. Supposedly they have to do so many push ups for receiving a card and even more if the envelope is colored. I sent her an envelope with floating cows on it to cheer her up and she ended up with the most push ups ever assigned in her unit.