Little Brother shipped off to Iraq.......

My little brother, Sean, was shipped off to Iraq this past Wednesday. Haven't heard anything yet but I knew that we wouldn't. I am not sure how I feel about it yet or maybe it hasn't kicked in.
He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas as a Military Police. He is supposed to be there for 6 months, come home for 2 weeks and then go back for another 6 months. My girlfriend's brother was in the Marines and did his tour and came back safe with a little less hearing. Let's hope the same goes for my brother.

Thanks!

Thoughts and prayers go to your brother for a safe return, and many thanks to him for his sacrifices to this great country.

My prayers are with you, your family and your brother. Thanks to him and also to you and your family.

My sister and her fiance recently returned home after their 15 month stay in the desert. They were stationed in Kuwait and made daily missions into all parts of Iraq.

Hat's off to him.

prayers for your brothers safe return

Prayers for him on a safe return. I am happy to see these young men and women serving for our country, but if it were my little brother, I would be a mess.

You have my prayers and he has my respect and gratitude. My son leaves either the first or second week of January for Kuwait and I am very torn emotionally. I am proud, but worried. I will remember you all nightly, Guardian.

Thanks.
Same goes out to you and everyone that goes over there. I am proud of all of them.

I am not a mess, yet. In my mind, it feels like he is still stationed in Kansas. When we hear from him over there, that's when it'll kick in.

BG and Deppfan, many thanks to your families. May God keep them safe. Prayers for all that have family serving in the Middle East.

A Little different Christmas story for those of you with family over there...and everyone else.

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!

Praying for your little brother's safe return! One of the ladies here at work just got her husband back after a year in Iraq. They are happily settling back into normal life again. I hope it is the same for your brother!

Much respect to the soldiers!

Quote:

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Much respect to the soldiers!

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Ditto.