Comments for As wars lengthen, toll on military families mounts »
Posted By STONERS 1 year, 4 months ago in NewsFar from the combat zones, the strains and separations of no-end-in-sight wars are taking an ever-growing toll on military families despite the armed services' earnest efforts to help.
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STONERS1 year, 4 months ago
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"If the burden sounds heavier than what families bore in the longest wars of the 20th century World War II and Vietnam that's because it is, at least in some ways. What makes today's wars distinctive is the deployment pattern two, three, sometimes four overseas stints of 12 or 15 months. In the past, that kind of schedule was virtually unheard of."
"Its hard to go away, it's hard to come back, and go away and come back again," said Dr. David Benedek, a leading Army psychiatrist. "That is happening on a larger scale than in our previous military endeavors. They're just getting their feet wet with some sort of sense of normalcy, and then they have to go again."
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Teech1 year, 4 months ago
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And listen to the chickenhawk Repukes and Cons as they spew, "Well, they all volunteered for it, they should stop bitching about it." Ah, yes, pure patriots all, and most of them have never served for a moment.
You're right, Stoners. Never before in history has the frequency of deployment been what it is today. I don't think anybody signed up with that in mind.
God bless these young men and women. God damn the Repukes and Cons who pi$$ and moan and block legislation when it's time to heal their wounds and provide their future education.
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AntiNeoCon1 year, 4 months ago
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Not really Stoners, my brother was stuck in the South Pacific fighting Japs for 38 months...no calls to home, not even able to come to his dad's funeral. War is always stressful on the GI's and their families.
My Son-in-Law is preparing to go over for his 7th or 8th time, but he only stays a few months each time. Yet, it is very hard on him and his family.
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1-2-Oscar1 year, 4 months ago
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In World War II, the entire nation was committed to achieving victory. The economy was converted to a war footing, rationing imposed, "Victory Gardens" were plnted, and millions of men were drafted. Every facet of American life changed and every American family had a stake in the war.
On Vietnam, although Lyndon Johnson assured us that we could afford both "guns and butter" and no changes were made to the domestic economy, there was still a military draft, and every American family was threatened by it. It gave Americans a peculiar sense of unity with those who went overseas--it could just as easily be their son, or brother, or spouse. (cont)
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1-2-Oscar1 year, 4 months ago
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In Iraq, the soldiers committed are often National Guardsmen who have been wrenched from their civilian lives--and many have returned to Iraq for a second, third, and even a fourth combat tour. But the average American regards the war there as something remote--we are disconnected because we are not personally involved. This places an enormous burden upon those relatively few men and families who serve. e do not share their burden.
There are obvious consequences to the manner in which this war has been conducted. Some of them arte political, some are moral, but generally the consequence is that many Americans regard the war as inconvenient, unnecessary, wasteful, and stupid.
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AntiNeoCon1 year, 4 months ago
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I can see you are not familar with the draft...I am. Believe me...rich kids don't get drafted. There are draft deferments like college, business needs, and other loop holes for the rich and famous. :) No, the draft won't change a darn thing.
It's always been the working classes and poor who fight our wars mainly, with few exceptions.
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CRYMTYPHON1 year, 4 months ago
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What about those who are dead?
Who speaks for them?
The wounded can at least speak for themselves.
But the country has no sympathy for fathers and mothers who mourn their lost family, unless they also praise the war.
Cindy Sheehan; the Tillman family; they are called traitors for speaking out.
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bubba21 year, 4 months ago
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I have posted so many stories about the troops and the veterans and how the government won't take care of them and even lies about what they are (or are not) doing.
It makes me sick and it makes me angry and I am just so fed up. But it keeps on going.
Suicide, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, lost limbs, lost eyes, lost families, bankruptcy, homelessness, unemployment, foreclosure - you NAME it, and it has ALL happened to THOUSANDS of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
"support the troops" ... lighting should strike anyone in the Bush administration every time they utter that phrase that they invented it, because they do NOT even DO it. Their agenda is control of oil and control of wealth and control of everyone that is not among the few rich elite.
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bubba21 year, 4 months ago
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I want to scream like the character in the movie, "Network" - I am MAD as HELL and I am not going to take it anymore!
But, I don't know what to DO about it since the politicians don't listen and the only people running for Congress are people who have compromised their honesty and integrity for politics and prestige.
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CRYMTYPHON1 year, 4 months ago
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You have been the premier poster of military news articles on Propeller, Bubba2.
And I am not talking about love-our-troops items which people post to give themselves a patriotic thrill.
You have posted on veterans benefits, health services, stop-gap issues, equipment issues, service issues, military contract issues, family issues, and all the detailed items the government would just as soon see deep-sixed into the back of the paper next to the church-sale news.
Thanks for doing so.
Means something.
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CHAM1 year, 4 months ago
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Crymtyphon you are so right. I can't believe the crassness of so many Americans. This is the darkest time during our country's existence, not because we are threatned from without, but because of the type of nation we have become.
The best thing we could do for everyone is stop the war, bring the soldiers home and prosecute the War Mongers and their enablers.
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nikkibabe1 year, 4 months ago
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I for one has the least sympathy for these "military families". These are the people who are encouraging the war monger in WH by flocking to military bases when he visits them and show support for him and his disasters around the world.
If they are really worried about having lost or about to lose someone in their families in an illegal invasion and occupation of countries, they should boycott and hold massive demonstrations when the war mongers visits their towns.
The more families that go to show support, the more encouragement he gets to continue.
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Natureboy1 year, 4 months ago
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Hey, Nikki -
I think that's a little stereotypical. And lacking in compassion.
I know people whose children are going off to war. They are upset, and worried sick. But the military is propagandizing these kids even in the elementary schools, and they come out of high school with nothing awaiting them except a job flipping burgers. College? Career? Ain't happening for a lot of the children of the working class, those things take money, but plenty of recruiters will lie to you and tell you that the Armed Forces are the path to all of these things, and will help you Be All That You Can Be.
Of course, many realize once they are in that they have been had, but it is too late.
So yeah, there are plenty of military families that themselves have drunk the kool-aid, but there are plenty who have not, and are simply watching with horror as their loved ones go forth to ruin their lives and murder strangers for no good reason except their government told them to do so.
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Glendalee1 year, 4 months ago
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Amazing how few families are responding. My son-in-law is on his second tour of Iraq right now. He has also served in Kuwait, Africa, Beruit, Korea and Afghanistan. He has an almost two year old child who's father missed her mother's whole pregancy and who won't be back until she is nearly three years old. Plus there are two older kids who are 7 and 9 living without a daddy. It is very hard on my daughter, in fact I am living with her for support until he returns this time. Imagine everyday not knowing where your spouse is or how he is.
He did try to get out and stop the deployment but could not find a civilian job to support his family and offer medical insurance so he went back in.
They were stationed here just two months when he was deployed, leaving his wife and children in a strange city where they knew no one.
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unome21 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Ritter explains how Americans betray our troops with those yellow ribbon decals on our cars.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/372.html
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tchef1 year, 4 months ago
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This is sad. Supporting the troops has been used as a ploy by both sides, Republican and Democrat alike. We need to do what is truly right for the troops and their families. And we need to do everything that we can to end this war and bring them home.
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Isabaugh1 year, 4 months ago
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Having had my husband in Iraq for 16 months I can tell you that it takes a strong spouse and family to continue while they are gone. Stress is what is the family enemy. You have to also consider that in Iraq we are using National Guard Soldiers more than ever before - they may not earn as much in combat pay as their normal job. In my husband's unit some members lost homes and other things due to their soldiers deployment. It is hard - but always remember a soldier does his job voluntarily and he has chosen it. His family must respect that at all times if he is to serve his country with honor.
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Natureboy1 year, 4 months ago
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"Always remember a soldier does his job voluntarily and he has chosen it. His family must respect that at all times if he is to serve his country with honor."
Always remember also that it is a mistake, and a sin against one's humanity, to put one's conscience and one's reasoning powers on the back burner in the name of God and Country.
No good has ever come of it.
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