Brother 21 years in reserves, called to Iraq.

[gizmo1979]

He was supposed to retire in aug.Had everything ready to go for his retirement when he got orders for Iraq.!18 f*#$%ing months.Who knows if they can do this or not?He never got extension orders,just the orders for Iraq.He leaves in sept.

[deadparrot]

1. I'm so sorry.

That's awful. :scared:

Best wishes for his safe return. :(

[gizmo1979]

17. Thankyou

so much for your concern.

[Coventina]

2. Don't let him go quietly. Make as big a production out of it as you can

Seriously.

People will *not* be able to look you in the face and say that this is the right thing to be happening to your brother.

[gizmo1979]

9. I will don't worry about that!

[murray hill farm]

3. same thing happened to my son...

He was sent over last january...the same month he turned 43.

[gizmo1979]

16. Is he still over there?

They fed my brother a line of crap saying it's not that bad,they're mostly rebuilding.

[murray hill farm]

19. yes..he is still there.

He was told that he may be able to return at the end of this year or early next year...but they all know this could change and be extended..and that it probably will.

[seabeyond]

4. whaat a bitch

he has to be old, lol. 21 years. signed up 20. would make him around 41. i am 43. i know how outta shape i am

i am so sorry you all are going to have to be in this experience.

[gizmo1979]

14. Yes he's 40

unlike me he's stayed in pretty good shape.

[seabeyond]

15. i just think that is wrong

i thought it was wrong all the way back. all of this is just wrong

[babylonsister]

5. That stinks, gizmo1979. May I ask

how old he is? Please keep us posted, and my prayers are with you and your bro and family. :grouphug:

[gizmo1979]

10. He's 40 years old.

Thankyou for your concern.

[paula777]

6. Is this something they can legally do - force a person to late retirement?

That doesn't seem right to me. And, I am very sorry as well.

[tblue37]

37. Yep.

It's the backdoor draft.

[Solly Mack]

7. Tell him to get a lawyer. Some reserve troops have been able to

get out of being called up so near to retirement

Best of luck!

[gizmo1979]

11. That's what I thought

I told him I don't know if he'll listen though.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. Unfortunately, they can do anything they want. Sorry for your brother.

[murray hill farm]

20. this is true!

they told my son that he could go now...(that being last january) and go with the men and woman in his company...or, he could resist and go a few months later...and be farmed out to other units as the army saw fit...he went...and he too was at the retirement door..just a few months from it..and he is 43...they CAN and Do do whatever they want....they haff der ways!!!

[DrDebug]

12. I'm so sorry to hear that

They want every person they can get nowadays. I hope you and your family will be fine. I wish you lots of strength.

[Toots]

13. He should go ahead and retire in August like he planned and then they will

have to call him out of retirement and that would definitely make the news. May not stop them from sending him off to war but will help if he decides to fight it.

[gizmo1979]

18. Good idea hopefully

that will help.

[Sanity Claws]

21. Is there somehow he can fail the physical?

I feel for you and your family.

[Just Me]

22. I'm sorry, gizmo. My brother is in similar circumstances.

:hug: it's so unfair, so not right.

[RetroLounge]

23. That sucks!

Hope he comes home safely.

I take it he's part of the 1000 guardsmen called up this week from Wisconsin?

RL

[gizmo1979]

25. I believe so

but he's going to be attached to a minn. group. So that makes it even worse.Vikings fans!

[RetroLounge]

27. Vikings fans!

Yikes!

RL

[katinmn]

32. Attached to a MN group: adding insult to injury?

He might end up converted!

Oh, I am sorry to hear this.

I hope he gets a lawyer to look into this.

They can't start calling up retired military -- can they?

[uppityperson]

24. I am so sorry for you and he and all your families.

hang Mr.bush and his evil minions and their illegal war. Impeachment.

[gizmo1979]

26. I'm all for that!

[Hapameli]

28. Refer him to the National Lawyers Guild and show him this stuff...

If my brother gets called back to Iraq, I told him he's leaving over my dead body. Assuming you're the same...

www.nlg.org or contact 323-653-4510

or GI Rights Hotline [phone] http://girights.objector.org/
or Peace-Out http://www.peace-out.com

Be sure to inform him of the illegality of this war. Print out these pages for him:

US War crimes and the legal case for military resistance
http://www.notinourname.net/troops/legal-case-3may05.htm

Call to Conscience from Veterans to Active Duty Troops and Reservists
http://www.notinourname.net/war/vets_call_conscience.html

Regaining my humanity by C.O. Camilo Mejia
http://www.notinourname.net/troops/mejia-17feb05.htm

and especially:

The Case of Pablo Paredes, in which the Navy judge ruled,

"I believe the government has just successfully proved that any seaman recruit has reasonable cause to believe that the wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq were illegal."

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=51&ItemID=7973

[gizmo1979]

47. thankyou very much!

[PerpetuallyDazed]

29. :(

We think my fiance is leaving in september, too. That sounds just like the army though -- so frickin DESPERATE for anything that breathes.

Question: When your brother signed up for the reserves, what was the minimum amount of time he could serve? For my guy it was 6... And he signed up a little over 2 years ago. HOWEVER, he tells me that before that point, (anyone know when?) the policy was a min of 4 years. WHY and WHEN was that changed??? He must've gotten the short end of the deal... :grr:

[malmapus]

38. Back when I signed up in 91 you had choice of 2 or 4 years

in the Regular Army. Dunno when they made it 4 year min, that bites. At least with 2 year you had chance to see if it was really for you.

[gizmo1979]

48. I'm really not sure.

Along time ago it was 3 years.

[GreenPartyVoter]

30. I am so sorry *hugs*

[EFerrari]

31. This is bullsh#t. Don't let him go. You CAN find a legal way

to avoid this chicanary.

:kick:

[gizmo1979]

39. hope so

[phillysuse]

33. Brother being recalled to Iraq

I'm so sorry for you.

My suggestion - why doesn't he announce that he is now gay or at least bisexual.

Better yet, get married in Massachusetts to a man, maybe someone else who is trying out his sexual choices.

Remember, don't ask, don't tell. You can't stay in the army if you
are gay, even if you are an Arabic linguist.

[smoogatz]

34. Maybe he can find a young Republican to go in his place

Oops--forgot. They're all too busy cowering in their parents' basements while posting a lot of gung-ho, rah-rah, "fight them there instead of here" bullshit on freepyourpubic.com.

[gizmo1979]

40. Amen to that!

The war would end if we drafted republicans.

[peacebaby3]

35. Hey Gizmo. I have a question.

My husband is in the Army and retires in 11 months. He has already done a year in Iraq. I know that all of the new orders for the past year or so have been for a minimum of 18 months, but they can extend to 24.

I know your brother can't get out or retire because of stop-loss, but I thought if he were eligible for retirement, he had 30 days from the first day of notification to get out if his contract's up. And if he has 21 years in, he should have been able to retire a year ago (at 20 in). Has he checked into this? I can't say that I am 100% correct about this, but I thought I remembered my husband telling me this one time before because I have been very concerned that he will get activated again before his retirement.

I'll keep your brother in my prayers!

[gizmo1979]

42. I don't know exactly

why his contract went to 21 years,but I know his contract is up in aug 6th.He's going to go ahead like he's retiring,and see if they send him stop loss papers or not.He's looking at all avenues.I'll let you know if anything new comes up.

[peacebaby3]

36. Kick - n/t

[Straight Shooter]

41. They can do this. "Everything changed after 9-11, blah-blah-blah."

I'm so sorry to hear this. The U.S. is playing dirty with some of its finest citizens.

[gizmo1979]

43. I couldn't agree more!

[dogday]

44. I feel with you as I have a Son who is being deployed around that

time as well but he is going to Afghanistan. My wishes and prayers go out to you and your Brother. Let us know what he needs....

[gizmo1979]

49. I have a niece

in Afghanistan.She's a medic.She's one of those altruistic people,she actually loves it.She helps the local people with checkups shots and such.

[UrbScotty]

45. Talk about Bush supporting the troops.

:mad::mad::mad:

[gizmo1979]

50. yeah he supports them alright.

[roguevalley]

46. Hug your brother for me. I am so very, very sorry.

[gizmo1979]

51. Thankyou for the support.

My brother couldn't believe all the support he received from people he doesn't even know!