Reply #34: We welcomed someone home alive this month.

[LWolf]

My son's best friend. He is not my son, but may as well be; he grew up hanging out at our place. He signed up in 2001, before 9/11. He just got back from a year spent in Mosul, and is due to get out in December.

We are so grateful that he made it home in one piece, physically. He is not whole mentally or emotionally at this point, though. He was part of an advance "strike" force. Most of the young men he was in basic with, trained with, and fought with did not make it home.

1999 families who were not able to welcome their loved one home.

Many more than that who welcomed broken, maimed, disabled family members back.

When does this reach critical mass for the general public? When does it penetrate their shriveled little hearts and minds?