In Bailey, a precious link (saw two soldiers standing outside, and knew)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091225/NEWS01/712259930

Published Friday December 25, 2009

By Matthew Hansen
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The toddler at the center of this story sprints through his grandparents' south Omaha living room. He pounces on his older brother, demands a horsey ride, and squeals with delight.

He appears in front of the Christmas tree and stares wide-eyed at the twinkling lights. You can see his brain working, turning, wondering. What will happen if I stick this silver tinsel in my mouth?

“Bailey!” his mother yells, and he scampers away, a naughty grin plastered across his face.

This toddler doesn't yet know he's tethered to a man he never met, a Bellevue firefighter and Nebraska National Guardsman who grinned his way through most of a deployment to Iraq.

Snip: The following day, Dee Bailey heard a knock on her door, saw two soldiers standing outside, and knew.

That same day, a frantic, pregnant Jennifer Cooper received a call, and she knew, too.

“I'm OK,” Craig Cooper told her from his hospital bed. “But one of my friends is dead.”

FULL story and photo at link.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. The power of love.

Amazing, wonderful story...

Thank you...

K&R

[jbnow]

2. Ouch. Painful. The love around the child is warming but

the man he was named after, Bailey, who was killed was the "father of five children and stepchildren".

I am glad little Bailey can bring some consolation but it's heart wrenching.

And I wonder what his wife felt about his reason for re-enlisting.

Bailey, 29, of Bellevue, left the Nebraska National Guard, then re-enlisted in 2005 because he felt cheated that he'd never deployed.

"...so he could get the deployment he desired." The father and stepfather of 5 children got the deployment he desired. I bet the mother/stepmother of those 5 children was horrified to see him leave for that deployment
I'm sure he was sure he'd come home safe and sound. I'm sure his wife prayed that was true.

I wish little Bailey was named after big Bailey just because of the men being good friends... that they celebrated his birthdays together.

Must be so hard watching someone you love joining the military

[MrsMatt]

3. I feel your last comment comes across as disrepectful.

Service in the military is an honorable profession, and many families are proud of their loved ones in uniform.

Perhaps you meant to say it is hard watching someone you love deploy.

[jbnow]

4. I meant a combination of it. Talking about recent years as Iraq was started,

Afghanistan far from over, Iran was rumored it would have been unusually hard to even see a loved one enlist because it seemed so likely they will go to a war zone. Yes, the hardest part would be seeing them deploy but even enlisting during these years you'd expect to see that day.
It is an honorable profession and I understand the pride families could feel. I don't know how families can bear it though...the many deployments...hearing about less than adequate equipment or food or water here and there, the lack of or wait for help when they return for too many... The ache of them not getting all of the support they deserve.

When I imagine myself in their shoes my heart aches. The time and concern would weigh so heavily and even when they return... they might be leaving again soon.

Hope I still don't sound disrespectful. I probably sound more like a chicken. I am.