Please note: DUer worried about a son in Iraq off to near Baghdad. Needs some support.

[Faygo Kid]

I am taking the liberty of posting a response I noted on the recent post, "12 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq." It was "just" another response (number 69), but it's more than that. It's from Semi_subversive, and I will be damned if I let it go by with just my response alone. I can't do that anymore. That's why I'm here.

It was titled, "These posts scare the shit out of me."

My semi-adopted son, Brandon, called from Kuwait to wish me a happy birthday on the 13th. He said he'd be there another two weeks and then head to Al Taji, about 25 miles from Baghdad. He's in one of the POS Strykers. I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to him. He was supposed to get out in December of this year, but the bastards extended him a year. I hope and pray he makes it back to enjoy life with his new bride and their 9 week old son. At least he got to be there for the birth and bonding.

[Bjornsdotter]

1. Semi_subversive.....

...we will think positive thoughts that your Brandon will come home safe and hopefully soon.

:hug:

[Joe for Clark]

2. His name is Brandon.

He is a Stryker. Key to living - its

Shoot first and duck faster.

Same advise I gave my kid - Just keep him a live a little longer. Cause this will not last long now.

Those are good kids - and they need to be kept alive now - one way or the other.

They are all our kids.

Joe

[snappyturtle]

3. You've got company---sorry, I've got a much beloved nephew

at Camp Taji; he's an observer on a tank. They extended his service too....I sign every petition and write everyone I can get to to say "Bring 'em home"! Keep us posted. Wish I could say something that would ease your pain but I don't know what it would be.

[Faygo Kid]

7. Damn. They are not numbers; we have GOT to bring them home.

I am not anti-war for all wars - but this can't go on. It simply can't, any longer. I don't want to wait until September to see the "surge" fail. I am fully aware of the disaster that this war has been and will become. The American people know it in their hearts - this experiment by the neocons has failed, and those neocons do not now nor did they ever care about people like you. Or your nephew. At all. For that reason along, we must end this. Let me know what I can do. Any petition, anything you need - you've got it. And thanks for your post.

[snappyturtle]

23. Read here on DU this morning

that the Pentagon has ordered up 35,000 more to get ready to go into the battle! Supposedly they are replacement troops and if so, why did they extend the tours three months? Yes, this is a mess.

Thanks for your support...it means a lot to know others care. Sunday the family is gathering in Houston to celebrate Mother's Day. The ghost in the room will be the beautiful brown eyed boy in Iraq who is serving with little training and without the rifle they promised him.

Oh, listen closely to the repukes....September doesn't seem to be the benchmark anymore to see if the surge is working, now they're saying...October...November. Sen. Issa said that on Washington Journal this morning....and I've heard others in the last few days say the same thing. I feel like we're all on a huge lifeboat holding on to one another in rough seas and hoping like hell the ones on the sides are holding onto the boat.

[ismnotwasm]

4. I was just feeling guilty

Just a bit, because my daughter left the military after 9 years when she returned from Afghanistan and I was feeling so relieved she's not in Iraq. Her unit was redeployed there in less than a year after Afghanistan. I thought of all the fear and sorrow that this war is causing. My heart goes out to all. I wish there was more I could do, or say.

She can't discuss the war much, but I can tell you If I feel a "bit guilty" she feels a lot guilty even though she knows it was the right decision.

[Faygo Kid]

8. Do not feel guilty. You are not, and together we can stop this war.

Promise me you will never feel guilty. When it comes to this war, "guilt" is something for others than you and your daughter. There IS more that you can do, and you don't have to wish it. Keep posting, keep sharing. And ask your daughter to share with us. "Guilt?" Not a chance.

http://www.alternet.org/images/managed/Story+Image_thumb_051006_story1.jpg

[Joe for Clark]

11. Nothing to feel guilty about,

[roguevalley]

5. I will pray for him, my friend. I feel your worry. My boy was in Bosnia.

Keep the faith and know you aren't alone.

[Olney Blue]

6. I hope your son returns home safely. I'm so sorry he's there.

:hug:

[Faygo Kid]

9. Kick. This needs more attention.

I am sorry for kicking my own post, but it's worth it.

[bonito]

10. K&R for the Families at war n/t

;(

[Faygo Kid]

12. Am I wrong in kicking this again? I have been on DU a long time, and this needs your attention.

I may be wrong here, but as I read time and again DUers with children or nephews or nieces in Iraq, I am crushed. We have this life, and that is all. Why are these lives wasted? Love your life, live your life, and sing.

[Faygo Kid]

13. This has been ignored. Check it out.

We must speak up. Now.

[bonito]

15. Kick and

:yourock:

[rurallib]

14. Prayers from the middle of the country.

:hug:

[Faygo Kid]

16. Prayers for all of them. And all of us. And those who are there. We have to stop it now.

There comes a time. A time when a hero says he will not get there without you, but WE as a people will get there. . .

[shance]

17. Bless you and all those who take the time to notice those in pain/frightened

Thank you Faygo and Semi_subversive for posting "the real stuff".

God damn those zombies putting these kids in harms way. God damn them to hell and to Iraq to be place on the front lines.

May we surround Brandon with our love and our protection so he makes it back safe and SOON.

Keep us posted and lets keep this thread and semi's thread KICKED*****

[Faygo Kid]

18. Prayers, hell. I love prayers. But that's not enough. Stop the damned war.

I am sick and tired about posting on DU since 2002 about how awful the war is. Sick. God damn it, people, stop this shit. Now. Whatever it takes.

[cally]

19. Thanks for doing this

I'll help you keep this kicked.

[Breeze54]

20. Semi_subversive? I've been there and

I'm extremely fearful that my son is going back again and I have good reason.
All I can do, or know how to do, is talk with you. Lend an ear... anytime you need it.
When my son was there, I was scared out of my mind and all of that came rushing in last
night after his phone call (his company is getting "ready" again) and now again, with
this post. I'm in tears. I have been all night and trying to fight them all day.

Know that my heart goes out to you. :hug: PM me anytime. I'll give you a phone #.

[Faygo Kid]

22. Please know we are here for you. And your son.

I have been a DUer for many years now, but I find myself confining my posts almost exclusively to trying to reassure those who have family in Iraq or Afghanistan. None of which are Bush Rangers or Pioneers. Ironic, and it reminds me that these are not political footballs, but real human beings with families.

Will you please keep us informed about your son?

[FloridaJudy]

21. For Brandon

May he be safe
May he be healthy
May he be happy
May he grow in understanding

[Hell Hath No Fury]

24. I have no children to send off to war...

nad all my nephews are in their late 20s, with no desire to enter the military. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be in your situation. War is insane making in the first place, but I would think that knowing full well that your son was being used and abused by the current occupant of the WH would make it utter agony.

May Brandon and the rest of men and women over there make it home safely.

[Marrah_G]

25. One day at a time Semi_subversive

You just need to breathe in and out. Try not to obsess to much on the news. And most of all, try not to panic everytime you hear another soldier died. The odds favor him coming home, make your mind remind your heart of that.

I say this as someone with a loved one there. Most important thing is that you and his wife get through each day. The second most important thing is that you write him lots of positive letters and send him lots of little special things to bring a smile to his face when he remembers home.

[karlrschneider]

26. Here's a link right to her post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2836567&mesg_id=2837641

[fizzgig]

27. stay safe brandon

:hug: to the family

[Semi_subversive]

28. Thank you so much Faygokid and DUers

for your outpouring of support and encouragement. I sitting here at my keyboard, gazing out my office window at the Sacramento River and Old Sacramento, and trying not to lose it. I'm going to give some history for my therapeutic value.

Brandon was my eldest son's best friend going thru junior high and high school. His mom died (cancer) when he was 14 and his dad, a retired cop, hit the bottle and Brandon always knew where he could find a safe haven. His stay-overs became more frequent to the point where we planned on him being here with us. My wife became his surrogate mom and my daughter became his bratty little sis. He became a part of our family. Occasionally, he would return to his dad's house a couple of blocks away, but that would only last for a couple of weeks at best. If only his dad would have treated him half as well as those damned wolves he rehabilitates.

When Brandon informed us he was enlisting in the Army, we tried to talk him out of it, or enlisting in the Navy or Air Force. I spent four years in the Navy, with most of my time being spent under water on a nuclear fast attack sub. I received my Viet Nam Campaign medal and ribbon for being in port less than 48 hours, just long enough to know that I didn't want to be anywhere near. One of my high school buddies was drafted into the Army. He was killed in '71 at age 19 and never got to see his son and left an 18 year old widow. This is what scares me most. Brandon and my friend have many things in common, among them, music and getting wild while performing. I'll never forget Brandon thumping away on his bass guitar at a gig, then bashing it to pieces (my son and he had re-glued it several times) and throwing complimentary condoms into the audience. I want him to be able to return safe and unharmed so he can once again drive from Olympia to hit the Seattle jazz clubs for an occasional jam session. He's still so full of life. And Misty needs her husband and Jackson needs his daddy. And I'm still scared.

I have written numerous emails to my congresspuke, the putrid chicken hawk, Dan Lungren, about ending this stinking occupation. I get the standard "We can't leave, now" response no matter what rational points I make. I'm tempted to go to one of his get togethers, but I'm sure I'd wind up in jail.

Again, thanks to you and all the DUers for helping me out.

Pax tecum