I just got AWESOME news!!!! My friend is coming home from Iraq!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

My very good friend, who is currently serving his 2nd extended tour in Iraq (part of the stryker brigrade that was sent home by accident), will be home for Christmas.

We will be going out on X-Mas eve and getting shit-faced, since that is our tradition. We had to skip it last year, since he was in Iraq.

[Rambis]

1. Be prepared

I have a friend who came back and he is really fucked up. He was counseling vets and finished his third tour and lost it. The sad thing is he knows he is fucked up and he knows the meds he is on to help him are fucked up but he can't cope without them. He doesn't want to go back to booze either (12 years sober when he left for tour 1). Booze can take on a hole new role after a tour sometimes. I am glad he is coming home but just a caution to you.

[Shine]

3. Wow, sad news Rambis.

but you're totally right about not expecting the friend to be the same person he was. War changes everything. :(

I'm hoping your reunion with your friend goes well, haruka. It's good to have solid friends. :hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Wow.

That's a sad story. :hug:

My friend is fortunately at a computer most of the time over there. He's an intel guy.

[Rambis]

great news

Cheers!

[GalleryGod]

19. I agree. Nobody comes back "the same"

It's very simple: they were at war.We were not.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Does he know you're a lesbian? Because I just found out myself.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Oh yeah, he's known I'm a total queer for about 7-8 years now.

He's half a queer, himself.

[Bassic]

11. Half-a-queer?

What's that?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Midlo & I have a joke that I'm a "total queer"

My friend is bisexual, so I just called him half-a-queer.

[Bassic]

16. Oh I understand now

:rofl: Good codename.

[speedoo]

4. I'm happy for you. Even happier for him!

I just pray he's safe for a few more weeks.:hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. Yeah, I told him he better keep his ass safe.

He was originally supposed to be back early July.

[BarenakedLady]

7. Excellent!

What wonderful news.

:woohoo:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

It made my morning.

:woohoo:

[Bassic]

9. Excellent news!

Here's hoping he keeps his head low until then :toast:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

20. Thanks.

He's an intel guy, so hopefully he will keep his non-office duties to a minimum. I do know that he loves the copter missions though.

:toast:

[mwdem]

10. Wonderful news, haruka!

Just make sure he gets home safe.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

21. Thanks!

He better keep his ass safe.

[deadparrot]

12. Glad to hear it!

Hope he stays safe 'til then! :hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

23. Thanks.

I hope so, too.

[Maine-ah]

14. that's awesome, haruka!

glad he's coming home nice and safe!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. Well, he has a couple more weeks in Baghdad, then he goes to Kuwait for a couple more.

Finally, he gets back into Jersey 12/16. He's on R&R here until 2/1, then he goes back to his base in AK.

[Reverend_Smitty]

15. Great news...

any soldier that comes home safe and sound is cause to celebrate

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

25. Absolutely..

:hug:

[Ohio Joe]

17. Sweet

I hope your friend comes home safe and sound. My friend Becky will complete her first year at the end of this month, I hope she is doing well.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

26. Thanks...

I'm friends with a few marines who are out of service now and they are praying they don't get recalled.

I will say this though. My friend does say that he feels there will be almost no military presence in Iraq by 2008 (he's intel). Although, he admits we may be in Iran or N. Korea by then.

[Vidar]

18. I'm glad for both of you.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

27. Yeah, we've been buds for about 10 years.

He never bought Bush's bullshit. I'm glad he's finally getting home.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. Excellent!

Tell him hello and welcome back! :hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

28. I will.

I really want him to join DU. His politics are even more liberal than mine. He's in the army just because he needed the money.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

32. More liberal than you?

Really? :D

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

35. He's a registered Socialist.

:P

[lildreamer316]

29. Great news!!

Even if he is not whole, here is always better than there.
I'm just glad he's gonna be home.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

31. So far, he's whole.

He better stay that way. Or I'll kick his ass.

[AntiWarPoster]

30. Bless his soul i hope he is all in one piece

nt

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

34. So far he is.

he better stay that way.

[Shakespeare]

33. That makes this an extra-extra-good night for you!

That's great news! :toast:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

37. Yes, and our drunken X-mas Eves are famous.

This year should be out of control!

:toast:

[Shakespeare]

38. Here's to an off-the-hook holiday season, then.

:toast:

Champagne taking effect...topping off with some nice green bud shortly. What a sweet, sweet night.

[SeattleGirl]

36. Sweet! I'm happy for you, and especially happy for him!

:bounce:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

39. He is defintely happy.

I was in really regular contact with him via instant messenger, but I hadn't seen him online in a couple weeks. He signed on and gave me really good news.