I put a yellow ribbon on my car today

[Catshrink]

My nephew leaves for Afghanistan around June 1. Everytime I think about it I start crying.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

1. My heart goes out to you.

:hug:

[Catshrink]

6. Thank you.

It's going to be a very difficult 356 days. He's counting. So am I.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Know the feeling

keep him supplied with care packages and tell him to duck and and not get any idiocy awards

[Catshrink]

5. Thank you.

I've sent him packages of home made cookies while he's in his last training stint here. I don't think the home baked stuff will stay edible after the journey to Afghanistan. I'm sure oreos will do - and sun screen and other stuff like that. I need to find out just what to send.

I did find out that a Post Office flat rate box costs only $11.95 to ship to troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. Amazing, isn't it?

As for the idiocy thing -- I admit I'm worried about that. He's all about taking care of his platoon and setting a good example for his men. Even if he comes back physically intact, what about his mental health? The stories of returning vets are not good.

:cry:

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Home backed goods do survive

funny story sis sent brownies to my husband. Damn things chased them across the pacific and took five months to catch up with the boat... they still devoured them

If he is in the infantry... send him backed goods, they will make it

The mail doesn't take that long to get to troops in the field

Now sailors in the silent service, that is another story

I sent some books to troops, it took two weeks

As to mental health, yes that is an issue... in every war and every service

When he comes home if he wants to talk, listen... and don't judge. Don't ask

[TahitiNut]

20. "When he comes home if he wants to talk, listen... and don't judge."

Furthermore ... NO PITY party.

It invites the wrong kind of "support" and sends the wrong kind of message, imho. Guys who spend time in Hell and survive it are strong, not weak ... survivors, not victims. Respecting that HUMAN strength of character isn't about "respect" for the uniform or "respect" for armed violence. It's about the strength of commitment and camaraderie and doing their best to do the right thing.

It's hard to explain. :shrug:

[Catshrink]

24. Well said.

I think I understand what you're saying. He wouldn't want a pity party. I think his commitment is what I respect most about him. He's worked very hard to get his commission and train for this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. I know... trust me I know

we both know.

And it's gotten to the point that war stories are reserved for others who've been in hell too

:-)

And in that sense it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy... we'd love to stop this hell from repeating, but hey,

it is the old lie...

http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html

[Catshrink]

27. My dad didn't like to talk about WWII too much.

I could get him going now and then. He wasn't on a battleship or directly in combat, at least that he ever told me. He was on a supply ship. Even so, the stories he told were harrowing enough. Imagine being in the North Atlantic, dropped down into the ocean in a small boat with a load of provisions being told to go find the sub. He couldn't light a cigarette for fear a German U-boat was watching. Silently, in the dark, he had to find the right ship. Dad always had an internal radar and he got his boat. Maybe that's why they chose him to do it.

I know he was also in the South Pacific and he wouldn't talk about that much. He stole an 8 ball from a pool table in a bar that wouldn't let servicemen play. He said the bartender called him "sonabitchy white boy." My Mom used that term a lot when playing cards and her side lost a hand. My sister finally asked her where it came from. Dad's war experience -- but I never hear Dad say it.

[Catshrink]

23. That's good to know about the food.

He'll eat just about anything except nuts. Thanks for the advice on listening. You're right, of course.

[TahitiNut]

8. Good advice.

I remember Viet Nam. Lots of people who were oh-so-concerned ... but no care packages. :shrug:

[Catshrink]

11. I need to figure out how to organize something

to send packages over. Now that I know how cheap it is for postage -- $11.95!!! How do I get addresses of soldiers? Maybe I'll contact USO.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Here is an adress

www.anysoldier.com

Oh and some of us do send care packages to perfect strangers who are on DU or off

I get an addy, a packet goes off

[Catshrink]

18. Thanks for the info.

I will get something off this week.

[applegrove]

3. That is heartbreaking. Vibes to your whole family.

[Catshrink]

10. Oh yeah.

He said he keeps a piece of his wife's wedding gown in his pocket and my dad's pocketknife clipped to his belt. I lost it when I learned that.

356 days.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. Best wishes. How does he feel about it?

[Catshrink]

7. Gung-ho.

He thinks it will be a great adventure. I knew I shouldn't have let him "borrow" my copy of Lawrence of Arabia.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

12. Should have given him All Quiet on the Western Front.

[Catshrink]

14. Saving Private Ryan is his favorite film.

[Mind_your_head]

9. My niece's husband just came back

for a year. I also have a friend in the Dutch army who was in Afghanistan for several months. He made a BEAUTIFUL collection of pics of Afghan children - on site, as it were. He doesn't want to/won't give me permission to post them here at DU. These pics would melt all of your hearts.....it melted mine.

Peace to you and your nephew. Tell him to "keep his head low". Appreciate beauty wherever he sees it. The world is full of beauty even while "some forces" try to destroy it..... I'm not "saying" this very well. I hope you understand the good intention that I am trying to put forward in these difficult times.

M_Y_H

[Catshrink]

13. What a great idea!

Thank you so much for the encouragement. My nephew loves to take pictures. Maybe that's something positive to look forward to. This young man is so amazing. He's been learning the language so he can communicate. He didn't have to do that, that's just the kind of guy he is. And he's been reading about the history and culture of the country so he can appreciate it better when he's there.

It will be a long year.

[doctor jazz]

15. Well, crap. If it's any consolation, it's about a hundred times less risky than Iraq was a few year

ago. No picnic of course...one of my neighbor kids was there for a year...he says he enjoyed it. But he was always and still is kinda weird...

[Catshrink]

19. I hope you're right about that.

The news makes it sound like Afghanistan is worsening. I know my nephew will make the most of it, he always finds a silver lining, but damn. His family will be a nervous wreck!

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Oh damn.

:hug:

[iris27]

22. Right there with you - my brother is headed there in May for a year as well.

My mom's been having nightmares two, three times a week ever since we found out. I just hope my other brothers (one Marine, one sailor) stay safely stateside.

I've been left kind of speechless by it all, but here's a hug :hug: and hopefully both our loved ones will make it back safe and sound.

[Catshrink]

25. Yikes!

Best wishes to you and your family. How long will your brother be in country? (I'm learning army jargon.)