Soldiers Shipping Out

Subject: My Best Friend
From: GUEST,Mugwa
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 10:22 PM

My best friend is shipping out. He was a pacifist, then he became and infantry man. He only arrived on his base the Friday before 9/11. He is engaed to the most wonderful girl in the world. She is one of my sisters friends, and has at times been very close to me too. He is leaving so suddenly he can't even call hardly anyone. My sister jsut happened to call and reach me when he was by the phone, thats how I know. I haven't spoken to him recently and I won't have the chance. I left him a message on the phone answering system and read him some poems I'd written. (One was actually a song I had written for one of the Song Challenges.) I always have poetry to share with him. He once said that of all the poets he was reading at the time I was his favorite, and he was actually reading poetry books at the time.

Where does any have the space to share these thoughts? So many don't want to hear, becuase they know someone who's shipping out. I thought this would be a wonderful form to allow people to get all out. I'm sure some will read the postings some won't, but everyone can feel that they've been heard.

Love to All Across the World~ Mugwa

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From:
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 11:34 PM

May the force be with him. mg

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: ddw
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 12:07 AM

Sorry for your loss, Mugwa, and I'll bet there are a lot of others feeling just as you are. It's not exactly being trumpeted, but the U.S. has had troops on the ground in Afghanistan since a few days after the attack. I just hope they accomplish what they're there for and get out safely.

And, if it's any consolation, I don't think your friend is going to get into this fight unless he goes into special forces or just happens to be where the terrorists hit next. This isn't going to be a conventional war.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 12:25 PM

I feel sorry for all the American and Afghan people who are going to be harmed in this.

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 01:58 PM

Mugwa, I was a wreck for several days because I have a very good friend in the Army, and I was very concerned about what would happen next. Any talk of soldiers in the news made me cry. My friend relocated to another state over the summer, and being so far away makes me feel like a pretty useless friend.

I have recovered most of my brains now, but once in awhile, something will set me off. It's the uncertainty of things that scares me most.

Like ddw said, unless he is in special forces or something like that, he's probably not going to Afghanistan. In the last several days there have been deployments of soldiers just in the States to guard military properties and other interests. Ft. Campbell (in KY) has just sent about 400 soldiers to guard some things in Kentucky and Indiana.

Keep your chin up, and support your friend as he does his duty.

Cheers---

Kim

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: DancingMom
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 11:01 PM

My husband is in the Air National Guard, and has been called to active duty. I have 3 months of nursing school left, so our household is a little disrupted at present. I was so stressed out, but I always make myself take a look around and see what others are having to deal with. It's the NOT KNOWING that is unsettling.

Taking it one day at a time, Sharon

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: Peg
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 11:44 PM

My hopes and prayers to all of you who have loved ones heading into potentially dangerous areas...

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 09:37 AM

Dear Mugwa,
This is the ninth time in my life that I have seen family and friends shipping out of the USA for overseas military duty, from Korea to Kosovo and everything in between. It doesn't get easier with time. You hope and pray for their safe return and try, as best as possible, to lead a normal life, even though nothing is normal, as we knew it.

Finding an outlet for your feelings, such as through your poems, will help some. Hoefully, the thought that you friend is in the thoughts and prayers of others will also help.

I have been very fortunate, in that my family and friends all returned from their duties. I will pray that you and your friend will be re-united when his duty ends and he returns safely.

Robby

Subject: RE: Soldiers Shipping Out
From: GUEST,just a nobody
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 09:50 AM

I am reminded of the Gulf War, when my best friend was called up. He was infantry marines. He came home right before Thanksgiving. We talked about what was going on and he laughed about it. I asked him if he would be sent. He shook his head, "Nope... I'm with a communications unit. We won't go untill well after Christmas." Three days later he called me, he needed me to fill out some paperwork, and collect some personal belongings. He was being sent out by the end of the week. It hadn't hit me the seriousness of the situation. I came onto base after a 5 hour drive, wearing my leather trenchcoat buttoned up all the way. A man with a rather large gun asked me "didn't your mother teach you any better than to come onto a military base looking like that?"

Lets see... "Don't stick that in the lightsocket, Don't leave the lid up, don't take candy from strangers, don't trust men, don't drink and drive... nope... I think we skipped that one..." Finally my frend came and met me, while men with large guns watched me. We talked and laughed, went out in search of a place for me to crash. We went out to the bar, drank till we couldn't see straight, and sat on the steps of my hotel room till dawn.

I drove him back to base and he went into his barraks (I was smart enough to leave the trench coat in the trunk this time). He came back and he started going over a thick stack of paperwork. I was barely paying attention until I heard 'Will' 'power of attorney' and other very official words. He handed me his 9MM that I had sold to him. "I can't take it. It's against the rules to kill someone with it." I paused and looked at the Glock. I think at that moment I realized what was happening. My best freind was giving me everything he had, "just in case." He showed no worry, but "We are all supposed to do this crap before we leave."

When we were kids in school, I remember that many of my friends looked up to me. Not that I was popular, or greatly intelectual. But because I was a reliable friend. I was always kind of proud to be the "leader" of our little clique. When we stood to leave I hugged my freind, I was proud of him. Proud to know him, proud that he trusted me. My friend broke the hug reminding me that it is really 'Uncool to be gay in the Marines." I'm not sure if he saw me cry when I left. There went my friend, to endanger himself so that I didn't have to.

To all those who answer the call... God bless you.. and thank you. And to those people that are left behind, Your strength and sacrifice is no less honored. God preserve our men and women who serve, protect the innocent, and comfort those that wait for thier return.