A Friend Lost Her Son to Iraq. This is too sad for words.

[leftyladyfrommo]

My friend has two sons. The youngest was the one that showed promise. He graduated from High School and then went a couple of semesters to our State College. School just wasn't really his thing although he loved Theater. He was Eagle Scout. He worked summers at the scout camp.

So he joined the Army. I think he was 19 by then. He went off to Washington State to become a Ranger. Went thru the training and then was off to Iraq. A young man who probably had never even seen a bad car wreck sent off into hell.

He made it home again. But then something went wrong.

He went AWOL about 3 months ago. He ditched his truck in St. Louis so his parents know he was there. But that is all they know. He is simply gone. They don't know where he is, if he is still alive, gone to Canada. Or most likely just lost on booze and drugs somewhere.

How many lost sons and daughters like this are there out there? How high is the Lost in Iraq number in reality?

[redwitch]

1. That is heartbreaking.

I don't know what I would do if that was one of my sons. :cry:

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. You know, Kerry was absolutely correct. Our army does not include

the wealthy and well educated. They don't sign up. It is children like this that end up going. A boy from a family where education wasn't considered all that important. Not very good at school. A nice kid looking for some kind of direction.

This breaks my heart.

[Jim__]

2. 19 - I hate it when they post the names and ages of the kids who were killed over there

So sorry to hear about your friend.

[Selatius]

3. Something he did or saw in Iraq wrecked him.

I'm speculating, of course, but a person doesn't do that and drop out of contract with loved ones and becomes a drifter unless something very bad and dark happened to him.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. They say he killed someone. Maybe that - or maybe it was

seeing people blown to pieces all over the street.

I know. People don't just disappear like that for no reason. Especially kids who came from a family like his.

His father fought in Viet Nam - and he still has shrapnel problems. Pieces of metal just sort of work their way to the surface of his skin.

I have no answers.

[blm]

4. There are still lost souls like his wandering this country from Vietnam, too.

My sympathies to all of you.


You might want to get in touch with Kerry's office or Max Cleland - Kerry's office would tell you how - they have strong creds on this particular issue of reaching out to troubled military men and getting them the help they need. Their office is great about that.

[DesertRat]

5. That is so sad

I have 2 sons in their early 20's. I am so thankful that they didn't join the military to be sent to Iraq. I hope that they find him and can get him help.
:cry:

[Jacobin]

7. Reminds me of one of my mom's neighbors

He was a Viet Nam vet. After killing a couple of kids who he thought might have been booby trapped (that did happen there), he flipped out and while on R&R in Australia, he went AWOL

Eventually landed back in the US, on disability of some kind. He would come by and visit from time to time. Extremely polite and non-hostile, with a very very distant look in his eyes. Very tentative. Very very gentle in his mannerisms and the way he moved. Spoke very quietly with a thin smile. He liked to talk about the weather or nature, but would never discuss political events or anything else. I think he lived in a safe zone so he could continue to function as best he could.

About the saddest thing I've ever seen.

I fear that there will be tens of thousands like him from IraqNam.

[bleedingheart]

8. my husband's cousin was never right after Vietnam

he came back and ended up having to be taken care of by his mother. Whatever happened there to him just destroyed his life.

I hope your friend's son ends up far better off.

Perhaps he is AWOL to save himself.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. I hope he is safe. I hope he is alive. I hope he doesn't end up

in Leavenworth.

But mostly I hope Bush gets whats coming to him for starting this pointless damn war.

[jody]

11. So sad and so evil of Bush to say such losses will be just a comma in history. n/t

[uppityperson]

12. k&r for our children.

vets benefits cut=support the troops? Heartbreaking, tragic.

[Hav]

13. .

19 is way too young to be sent into a war. Really. When I was 19, I don't think that I was ready to make a decision like this.
And yes, there are probably so many who return home broken. And then those who send them to war desert them. For example by cutting benefits again and again and leaving them alone with their problems.

This young guy certainly has something to work out and he deserves help. He shouldn't be left alone to deal with his situation.

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. His family would move heaven and earth to help him - if they just

knew where he was.