A man in my office has a son who was wounded

[kayell]

Friday in an ambush. He has shrapnel in his shoulder and a piece lodged next to his juglar vein. They didn't get him a medic until Monday (!) and he is still at a field hospital? near Baghdad. 4 other occupants of the vehicle he was in were very severely injured and were flown immediately to Germany.

The poor man is very upset and worried about his son, the shrapnel next to his juglar vein sounds really scary. He was not even informed his son had been injured until late Monday. He saw the report on the ambush on Saturday and had no idea that his son was involved, but said the vehicle was demolished, that he couldn't believe that anyone had come out alive.

This fellow is a long time, old fashioned, southern republican. He has become seriously disillusioned with the * administration. His son has had nothing to eat but MREs for months and months, also mentioned the water situation. He is disgusted with the cuts to hazard pay, treatment of vets, charges for meals, and says his son will never go back to the military and that decison was reached long before the ambush. He was practically trembling with fury at the * treatment of ordinary soldiers.

I really feel for this man. All his belief in his country has been ripped away in the last few months, and now he is even more afraid than he was for his son.

[Jacobin]

1. As a father of sons I can only begin to understand his

anger/fear/frustration at having a son in that situation.

A convert to the Democratic party from the Dark Side I hope.

[Atlant]

2. More will be educated in this same way, I'm afraid.

More will be educated in this same way, I'm afraid.

But honest, we DID try to tell them it would be like this.
For our trouble, we were called cowards, traitors, hippies,
Commies, and a bunch of things I'd just as soon forget.

It's a shame that people are being forced to learn in this
fashion; one can only hope that they actually ARE learning!

We'll find out in 2004.

Atlant

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. My heart goes out to this man,

his son and all the soldiers in Iraq. This all lays at the feet of the shrub. I hope he's tried for war crimes. I can dream, can't I?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

4. Is it true they don't have enough water because it's been privatized?

I keep hearing a rumor that the troops have only a small ration of water because water supplies were "privatized" - so one of Cheney's cronies could get the contract I assume. Is this true? If it is, it has to be the most disgusting example of GOP bull-shite I've ever heard of.

[Evil_Dewers]

5. Southern Republican

That's too bad. I hope his son comes home healthy and soon and the Southern Repugnantcan father who voted for * flogs himself into a stupor.

[KCDem]

6. poor guy, I hope his son recovers.

The shrapnel next to his jugular does sound scary.

It's really sad that it takes THIS to wake up people.

[ignatius]

7. I hope he channels that anger and disillusion into working

against the BFEE by registering votres, driving them to the polls, working the phones or whatever. Please encourage him to turn this into something positive. Tell him to do it for his son and his own well being.

[Ilsa]

8. Please convey to him

that many prayers from the good people on this forum are for his son. I appreciate his son's commitment to the defense of our nation.

Please tell your coworker that there are still many patriots left in this great nation. We just have to vote the greedy, heartless, Constitution-ripping traitors out of office.

It sounds like the light is finally coming on for him.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. These are very serious injuries- the jugular

if affected by the wounds, would imperil the flow of blood to the brain- very serious. I wish him and his family well.

[Cappurr]

10. You feel it when it hits close to home....

When a friend or co-worker or family member is affected diretly like this. Tell your friend that our thoughts are with his son and one good thing that has come from this is that his son will be coming home. And I know shrapnel near the juglar vein sounds omnious put it is probably worse than it sounds otherwise he would have been shipped to Germany right away with the others. Also if your friend hasn't already talked to his son, tell him to bust his chops through military channels to get a call through. It really isn't that difficult. If they won't help him, tell him to say he will contact one of the major media who will probably be happy to take one of their satellite phones to his son so his son can talk to his dad.

[NNN0LHI]

13. I think the Red Cross would be faster at getting a call through

They do great work. I would be calling them right now if this were my son.

Don

[sangh0]

11. My heart and prayers go out for this man and his son

Here's hoping they both come out of this whole.

[niceypoo]

12. Haliburton is running the war on the cheap

Profits! Profits! Damn the damage

[pansypoo53219]

14. and that why

they need even MORE BILLIONS.

[kayell]

15. Thank you all for your expressions of sympathy

I will pass them on. While Ed and I have never agreed politically, he is a nice guy, and we have always gotten along well. (Thanks to that old southern thing about looking for the common bond, and avoiding controversial issues) I hope his son will be coming home soon and with as little damage as possible from this hell the BFEE has created.

[Cheswick2.0]

19. please tell him this liberal Feminist is praying for his son

and the rest of his family.

[soup]

16. Can't imagine the pain and frustration

of knowing one of my children was injured and not being able to go wherever they were just to touch them. To lay a 'mom hand' on the side of their face, to assure myself and them that they were getting the best care possible.

As a parent, he has to be out of his mind with worry. Is there any way that at the least, a phone call can be arranged?

As a Republican, he has to be fighting a lot of personal demons right now. It's unfortunate that it had to come 'this close to home' for him to see what's going on.

The number of deaths and injuries continue to rise and (please forgive me for this) after awhile, it seems like it is just numbers. Over time, a sort of 'immunity' builds - maybe because it is too overwhelming to contemplate and too painful to continually let in as anything but numbers.

The weight of one person's experience is much harder to carry.

Does that make any sense at all? Not sure I said it well.

Mainly I just wanted to say my heart goes out to this man and his son.

[Skwmom]

17. Please keep us updated on the status of soldier.

I think the nightmare of any parent is to outlive their children. I hope he makes it safely home.

[Skwmom]

18. Have him contact his congressman.

I'm not sure how it works for civilians but if I soldier files a congressional complaint, the military has to promptly provide a response. In addition, I doubt his congressman would like to be viewed as less than resonsponsive on this matter.

[arcane1]

20. the Truth hurts, badly...

and we need to be there for these people and give them hope