I grieve, and I am one of the lucky ones.

[Pacifist Patriot]

My dad shipped off when I was ten days old. My mom and my grandmother moved furniture up and down stairs to make sure my dad was able to see his daughters before he went off to war. My sister and I were born three weeks early. Well, not like it was as precise then as it is now, but that's been the family lore.

We have some adorable memos my dad sent to my mom when she was in her final trimester. Fortunately, my mom's body obliged and my dad was able to hold us in his arms before he left for Vietnam. While he was in country, my mom managed twin daughters and started going back to get her undergraduate degree. Supposedly my sister and I pitched a fit whenever a male came to the door so my mom had us play with a photo of my dad. She was terrified we would wail when...if...our dad made it home. We didn't, we knew who he was.

My dad was not there for our first birthday. But we have photos of our "fourteen-month party." My dad made it home. He was one of the lucky ones. This was 38 years ago.

I remember my dad falling apart Memorial Day weekend when I was in the fourth grade. I don't know what came on the radio, but I do recall my sister and I being sent outside to play. I knew dad was crying in my mother's arms.

I remember my dad telling me stories about the photos and slides he had taken in country. I had volunteered for an American History project my junior year in high school on the 1960s. I had his flak jacket and his Rand-McNally map of Vietnam. I had his Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

I remember my dad laughing about the USO and Playboy Bunnies as we drove back and forth to the army base where we both worked as civilians between my junior and senior year in college. He gave me names and reminisced about serious, bizarre and silly times at war.

I remember praying no one else would have to imagine their father at war.

In June I will be with my dad. I will have in my life a fantastic human being who loves me with every ounce of his being. A man who is unashamed to shed tears of joy and pride. A man whose sole goal in life was to make his wife happy, his children successful and his parents proud.

I grieve because so many have learned nothing in the last forty years. Too many will be denied the blessings my family enjoys. War is hell.

[DaveJ]

1. The great men and women in the military are...

...an example of why the U.S. should never again allow an idiotic corporate stooge rise to the level of Commander and Chief. A great thing about how the U.S. was intended, is that we are not supposed to be led by royalty, but those who have earned the right to lead.

[Bluerthanblue]

2. poigniantly beautiful.... thank you for this. eom

:grouphug:

[WiseButAngrySara]

3. This brought tears to my eyes it was so beautifully written.

:kick: and R! and thanks for sharing.

[Hissyspit]

4. I did not recognize my dad when he came back from Vietnam the first time.

I remember this very well. I guess I was about 5. I wondered who this many was that had come to visit us and was staying in my Mom's room. I was mad I didn't get to sleep with her anymore.

My dad went back for another tour, but came back both times.

George W. Bush has not been to one soldier's funeral, where he would the have to see the children whom he has deprived of a father or mother.

[FloridaJudy]

5. You have a gift with words. Brava. K&R

[Cabcere]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Beautifully written. :hug: Thank you for sharing this with us.

[brer cat]

7. You are a daughter he is proud of indeed!

Beautifully written. K&R

[truedelphi]

8. Why is it that when a group of warriors learn that war is hell

Their knowledge is covered up and when/if it slips out, is derided.

Very glad for you that your dad made it home. I think that fathers who rely on their kids to help them with the return and re-adjustment to stateside are on some level teaching worlds of wisdom about the value of pacifism.

I'd love to see these requirements for war to be met before we start sending off the nineteen year olds: everyone who wants a war can choose to either up their tax payments by 2,000 per cent, or serve overseas putting their own body on the line.

[Suich]

9. A hug for you, Pacifist Patriot,

and please give one to your Dad from me, when you see him. Tell him I said "Thanks"!

:hug:

[Philosoraptor]

10. Thanks for this post.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

11. Thank you for this Pacifist Patriot

:hug: :loveya:

Beautifully written :)

[shireen]

12. thank you for your beautiful post

you remind us so vividly of what this country has lost. I am so glad you did not have to endure that terrible loss, and your dad came home and had the opportunity to be a wonderful husband and father.

[file83]

13. Losing a parent when you are a kid, sucks.

When it is due to normal stuff (disease, accidents) that's one kind of tragedy.

When it's due to a stupid war, I can't even imagine. Mixed in with the grieving would be a complex anger. Questions of "why" would have a direct tie to people in power. That would be wierd to have people profiting off of your parent's death.

[Clark2008]

14. Does that work?

I'm so ready to have this baby inside me born - three weeks early is still full term. I've got two more weeks to go to reach 37 weeks.

I think I'll go move some furniture now. :silly:

[Usrename]

15. I always enjoy your posts.

You have a gift for getting to the point of things.

[NanceGreggs]

16. Beautifully said ...

... and thanks for sharing.

[benddem]

17. tell him

I said "Welcome Home."