Grandmother deployed to Iraq 10 months before retirement

[leftchick]

http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4835589

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) -- A grandmother in eastern Iowa is getting one last call to duty.

Janet Grass, 52, had planned to retire from the military in about ten months after spending 19 years in the Navy Reserve. Instead, she has been ordered to leave her job as a special-education teacher in Cascade and do security work in the Middle East.

Grass boarded an airplane yesterday at the Dubuque Regional Airport amid emotional goodbyes from her family, which includes four children and six grandchildren.

Grass will train in California and Texas before deploying to Iraq for 12 to 18 months.

[stepnw1f]

1. Instead of the Chickenhawk Freepers (nt)

[saigon68]

8. Here are several Pieces of Crap who should go in her place

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I hope she stays well and okay

But anymore, they are putting Naval personnel on the ground doing the work the Army has done. Of course, we can't ask the neocons in college to go in her place; they have "other priorities".

[OKthatsIT]

9. I think the Bush Admin wants them dead before times up

less money for veterans...In this woman's case...no retirement funds needed, if you're dead.

[TriMetFan]

3. _

:wtf:

[newyawker99]

10. I agree!

:wtf:


This is sad. :-(

[Sammy Pepys]

4. OK, the "grandmother" part is a little misleading...

It sounds like they were trying to paint the picture of a 75 year old lady knitting or something.

Still, I hope she stays safe.

[daleo]

5. A 52 year old still seems to imply a certain level of desperation

As far as filling slots to do security work in Iraq goes.

[Lars39]

6. Especially from the Navy Reserve.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Grandmother = woman whose children have children. Simple as that.

Would you prefer it spun so it doesn't look as wrong as it is?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. My concept of "grandma" changed when I became one at 52

eom

[leftchick]

15. my mother was a grandmother at 41 yrs old!

The fact of the matter is she has six grandchildren, an important job in her community and she is being stop lossed while in the Reserves! It sucks!

[IndianaGreen]

11. This sucks!

The worse part is that Navy personnel are now being used in non-traditional Navy missions supporting the Army. She won't be on a ship, that's for sure!

This war must end!

[henslee]

13. Lets just make a granny squadron. They can darn socks and bake cookies

and ask the other soldiers why they never call. Heeee.

[FloridaPat]

14. Didn't they send a 60+ year old lady over there in the beginning?

These peole are insane.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Would she have been allowed to resign from the reserve since 2003?

If so, then she made a decision to stay, knwoing this could have happened - and may be fairly OK with it. If she's been kept in the reserve since Bush's desire for war became certain, without any choice, then this sucks (though I'm surprised the reserve would keep someone apparently without a rare speciality and a modest rank that old).

[WhiteTara]

17. This looks like retribution for the Grannies

Against War. They weren't convicted and the *co were annoyed at the bad pub and so they sent a grandmother. I can not believe they will actually send her. If I were her, I would show what bad shape I was in, break my leg, I don't know what. But this is bad, very bad.
:grr:

[HockeyMom]

18. 69 year old retired surgeon

got the call up a few years ago. He thought it was a mistake. It wasn't. He said he retired from private practice because he was having too many medical problems himself, arthritis included.

It sounds like if you don't have a Death Certificate, they can and will call you up.