We have a son that served a year in Iraq. He was 24 when he went with his unit of 150...90% were high school buddies. Some didn't come back. Luckily he did. He is now 27. He was a gunner and rode like a sitting duck every day while patrolling the streets in Bahgdad. He saw plenty of action. He is a very strong person but there is nothing that can prepare a young man for what they went through.

Our son works with us. Today another bout of PTSD (post tramatic stress disorder) re-entered his life. I feel so helpless. His first order of business when this happens is to call one of his soldier buddies. I sent him home and gave him tomorrow off and we'll go from there. I know he has learned the tools to get through this bump in the road. I just get so scared for him and know this is something he will maybe have to deal with for a lifetime.

We are so proud of him and every other person that serves our country. We have him back. Others have not been that lucky so I shouldn't complain. I just needed to talk.

I'm tearing up thinking about our men and women (and their families) having to deal with everything they/you all deal with. I've been traveling for work lately and seeing all of the soldiers in the Atlanta airport just breaks my heart. I so want to hug them all but why don't I - b/c I am a big girl. Stupid, huh?

A co-worker's hubby is career Army - she has suggested that I offer my cell phone if it looks like someone's coming home since they prob won't have a phone with them. So if anyone else if traveling, that might be an idea for you as well. :-)

God bless all of our troops around the world serving our great country and our friends' countries/troops!

I'm tearing up thinking about our men and women (and their families) having to deal with everything they/you all deal with. I've been traveling for work lately and seeing all of the soldiers in the Atlanta airport just breaks my heart. I so want to hug them all but why don't I - b/c I am a big girl. Stupid, huh?

A co-worker's hubby is career Army - she has suggested that I offer my cell phone if it looks like someone's coming home since they prob won't have a phone with them. So if anyone else if traveling, that might be an idea for you as well. :-)

God bless all of our troops around the world serving our great country and our friends' countries/troops!

Many times a simple hand shake with a heartfelt 'thank you' means the world to them too!

I am so sorry your son has to live with this for the rest of his life. My husband has also served two tours in Iraq and is heading back in Jan.. His first tour was easy, only 4 months and their job was to go bring back all the units equipment. His second tour wasn't so easy, he was with 10th Mountain and he was gone for 15 months. He was out on patrol several days a week and had several incidences before an IED blew up his truck. He got a concusion and torn ligament in his shoulder. Thankfully it was nothing more than that!! He deals with the affects of it every day too. He still gets migraines from the concusion and has to take Imitrex shots when he feels them coming on. He has good day and bad days. He lost a very close friend to an IED when he was home on R & R, so he feels extremely guilty that he wasn't there to do something or just to see him one last time. :biggrin: They recently did an IED briefing here at his new unit and he couldn't handle it, he had to walk out. Thankfully his commander knew what had happened and walked out with him and they talked. He came home so upset that day, so I had to help him pick up the peices. It is so hard for these soldiers!! I know there are thousands of others just like my husband that have to live daily with what the saw and dealt with over there. :mad:

We have a daily reminder on our entertainment center that I put together for dh. I got a shadow box and put a piece of shrapnal from the IED, a picture of his blown up truck, his Purple Heart certificate, his actual Purple Heart medal, and a picture of him when he was awarded the Purple Heart. He loved it, it means alot to him!!