SOLDIER LETTERS

From: ___________
To: mmflint@aol.com
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:50 AM
Subject: another story

Hi-

Another mother telling you about her son's Iraq experience. Allow me to back track a moment to offer a little history. My son graduated in 1992 without any real interests or compelling direction. We were fighting quite a bit at home and we STRONGLY encouraged him to check into the armed forces. We thought a couple of years in the service may help him to grow up, give him time to figure out what he wanted. Fast forward to January 2003. He has only spent 4 of the last 11 years in the states. The rest of the time has been spent in Germany, Bosnia, Korea and elsewhere. With a wife and 2 children they schlep wherever the Army sends them, proud of the job they do. He called me with the news that he was going to Iraq. He voiced concern about the protesting in the states that he was witnessing on tv. "I just wish they supported us a little more, mom". He said. I tried to explain that they DID support them and that was WHY they were protesting. But this soldier believed in the president, and truly believed that he was going to Iraq to protect his family, here in the U.S.

Well, he did his 7 months in Iraq, and he had his eyes opened. He feels lied to, and that the country is still being lied to on a daily basis. He is leaving the army as soon as his time is up. He's angry, and when we saw him recently, he said he wished so bad that he could just make every American hear him. They have their orders, however, and they do not include exposing their boss. For the last 8-9 years he has planned to stay at least 20 years in the Army, then move on. His faith in the government has now been terminally shaken. He is getting out, never to return. The Army will lose a good man, many good men, I imagine. He no longer trusts the president, the people who speak for him... the office itself.

Sincerely,
A Soldier's Mom

Read another letter
Back to the Index