Who here has a friend or relative in Iraq?

[Philosoraptor]

My niece is going to Iraq in 6 months. My brother is in a blue funk over it, he is a former bush supporter, voted for him twice, but now regrets it. Right after he told me last year that he regretted voting for bush because of the war and the fact that bush isn't a real Christian, his own daughter is going to Iraq.

I was just curious what percentage of DUers actually had people or acquaintances in Iraq or Afghanistan, and what their feelings are about it.

I worry for my niece, a great girl, but I don't think I could handle the stress of one of my own sons or daughters being involved in bush's war. I feel bad for her and for her parents, but, she did volunteer and I respect her decision.

Do you have a loved on in the field of battle?

[OneBlueSky]

1. my neice has been in Iraq since January . . .

not sure exactly where -- it's classified . . . we all have our fingers crossed, and even the non-religious in the family are praying . . .

[anniebelle]

2. My 20 year old grandson is there now.

[Maine-ah]

3. someone I consider a nephew

is with the 101st on his third tour. His father is on his way back there in a few weeks.

[HawkerHurricane]

4. Possible son-in-law

with the 4th Infantry Division in Bagdad.

[Doubting Thomas]

8. Possible Grand-son-in-law?

Tu Yung II

[w8liftinglady]

5. my son went three times as Regular Army,and now is going as a contractor

working for EDO,on this project:
http://www.edocorp.com/pr2006/06r0728.htm
My concerns for him started long before he signed up for this job.Being in war changes a person-to the point that they have a hard time relating to their civilian peers.my son soon found most of his old friends boring,shallow,and immature.He has had a terrible time finding a job afterwards.There is no mechanism to help these guys get back to work.He is working as a security guard for 5.75/hr.EDO offered him 120,000-80,000 of which is tax-free.He has a lot of unresolved issues,and was going to go back into the Army when this job came along.I will warn you that your neice may not be the same kid you send over there when she comes back.

[Philosoraptor]

7. I don't see how she could be the same person after.

I dread your point.

[Arkansas Granny]

6. The nephew of a friend of mine has recently returned and the

son of a co-worker leaves for Iraq within the next two weeks.

[cynatnite]

9. We had three relatives there...

One is currently pulling some kind of guard duty in Northern Iraq. My cousin is back at college working on his degree and the other cousin is stationed in GA.

[grannylib]

10. My cousin's son is in Fallujah; also have two co-workers there now and

the son of a good friend is on his THIRD tour...

I hate this fucking war and don't understand how anyone can support it, but I honor and support those who are there, and who are willing to put their lives on the line (whether for the right or wrong reasons)

[flygal]

11. Brother in Afghanistan

He's not a * supporter at all, but he actually has a very positive attitude about doing his job. Our whole family sends care packages and emails with pics, however today he wrote that jpegs aren't allowed - WTF?

He just got there so it hasn't been detrimental, my cousins boyfriend came back from Iraq last year - another * hater, and he said a lot of his unit came back to cheating spouses and lots of counseling.

I wish your neice well.

[Hobarticus]

12. I have two friends there, one Army and one Marine...

Kind of lost touch with both of them. I know the Marine isn't the same guy I knew when he left, and I regret that.

[w8liftinglady]

13. I appreciate the fact that most still support the soldiers/marines...

I had a boyfriend a long time ago who related how when they deplaned from Viet nam-his friend was hit in the head with a rock...never was the same...permanent brain damage...by protestors.the soldiers are not the enemy-it's the evil bastards that have used and abused them.Thank you for having the maturity to see that

[savemefromdumbya]

14. 3

I shared a graduate dorm with 3 Iraqi vetenarians, 1 Israeli, 3 Sudanese, 1 Greek and 1 Kenyan. I used to hear from the Iraqis but nothing since the last invasion.