I've suddenly seen the face of this war, up close and personal

[skygazer]

I saw it in the face of the 17 year old boy I work with who buried his older brother yesterday. Strange. I'd just had a nice conversation with this kid a few weeks ago - smart kid, knowledgable about current events, liberal. He told me his older brother was serving in Iraq. "He's a Ranger," he told me, concern mixed with pride in his voice. "The guys who are the first ones in the shit. And the first ones to get killed."

I told him I'd keep his brother in my thoughts and that I hoped he came out of it okay. Now he's gone.

It's a terrible thing to see a 17 year old boy walking around looking like he just got hit by a truck. His brother was 19, 20. Kids. Just kids. :cry:

[Warpy]

1. I just hope that 17 year old doesn't follow him

It happens.

[Subdivisions]

3. I would wager that it happens

for most part because younger male family members want to exact revenge for their loved one's death and so they sign up.

[Mabus]

8. The same reason the kids are signing up over there

to exact revenge for their lost family members.

They kill one of ours and a family member signs up. We kill one of theirs and a family member signs up. Perpetual war.

[MADem]

6. It does. I had the horrible experience of giving the oath of enlistment

to a lad whose brother, in service, had been brutally murdered by terrorists quite a few years back.

What do you say? You look at the parents, looking on, who have lost one son, and see another one raising his right hand to take the place of the dead child. They're sobbing, they're sort of proud, it's just an "icky" feeling all round.

I didn't like doing it. I wanted to shake the little shit and tell him to go home with his folks and try to live and be happy, and remember his brother with gentle affection.

The only bright spot of it all is that the kid has been able to pretty much stay out of harm's way. I've kept an eye on him over the years, and he's getting close to retirement eligibility. Let's hope he bails sooner rather than riding it all the way out.

[skygazer]

9. I don't see that happening with this kid

He's quite bright and against the war and Bush. He told me he plans to go to college and wants no part of the military - I don't see that changing. But I do know it happens a lot.

[nam78_two]

2. very sad

:(...incidents like that always bring the horrible realities of war even closer to you..putting a face on it....
Poor poor kid..what a thing to deal with at 17. I wasn't thinking about anything too much more important than Math homework and movies or books at that age :-/

[uppityperson]

4. Talked with a woman last wk whose son is going for 3rd tour in Iraq

She was worried, very worried. Said that while doesn't get into action, he has changed a lot since before he went, and not in positive ways.

[Captain Hilts]

7. She has every right to be worried. It's wrong to order a 3rd tour.

We keep asking the same small group of people to fight this war.

If it's as important as Pres. Bush says it is, then he should be asking more of us than to "go shopping."

[iamthebandfanman]

5. my neighbor is 17

and has already enlisted. he leaves for basic the month after he graduates from high school.

hes very smart n definitely against the current administration, but his family has lived below poverty since before he was born so he needs the financial stability that serving can bring(his words, not mine).

hopefully he'll stay safe. hate to lose another smart kid.

one of my best friends shipped out within the last month, i pray every nite hes doing okay over there(he hates bush too btw).

[skygazer]

10. My son turned 18 last December

I see him in the face of every kid wearing a uniform. I saw him in the face of this kid today, and in the face of his dead brother. My son lives with his dad - last I talked to him, he had no interest whatsoever in the military for which I am grateful but I worry. Oh, yes, I worry.

[BigBearJohn]

11. Thanks for sharing. We need to hear this. It's not only a number --

We are talking human LIVES.
More than 50,000 of 'em.
Dead -- and for WHAT?

What a world we live in.

(HUGE SIGH)

[specimenfred1984]

12. Germans, Just 1930s Germans

Just people who lined up with guns to perform their duty.

Just who were those people?