Army Wife and Mother in Oregon Battles War

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/20/2662/

Army Wife and Mother in Oregon Battles War
by Julie Sullivan

BEAVERTON, Oregon - An army travels on its stomach. So Chop! Marlene Schaffer attacks vegetables as she grills T-bone steaks for her husband’s farewell party. Chop! She shreds lettuce for chicken Caesar salads for a midweek meal.

With her husband Howard Schaffer’s deployment this morning, the Beaverton woman has now sent her daughter, her son and her spouse to Iraq. As a military wife, she is an expert at frenzied packing and farewell dinners, but the white-knuckled grip on her vegetable knife betrays a growing anger.



Howard Schaffer, 45, is joining President Bush’s surge in one of its most dangerous front-line jobs. As a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, he will work as a civil affairs officer, bridging the gap between combat troops and local Iraqis. He leaves behind his civilian job as the property manager of Portland’s Mark O. Hatfield, Gus Solomon and Pioneer Courthouses. But he also leaves behind a wife whose patience with the war has evaporated.

Read the bumper stickers on the family rigs: “My son is in the U.S. Army,” “My daughter is serving in the U.S. Army,” and “Proud Spouse,” are plastered alongside “Exactly what are conservatives conserving?” and “War is Shell & Exxon Mobil & Halliburton & Conoco Phillips and . . .”

Marlene Schaffer, 59, has joined an anti-war organization and wears anti-war T-shirts to her husband’s military events.

“Howard just shakes his head and says, ‘Mar . . .’ But I want people to get a different perspective. I support my troops, but I don’t support the war because I don’t see the sense of the war.”

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[Parche]

1. Beaverton

That is where I live!!

I wonder if they ever see our protests every Wednesday night 630pm-730pm

:hi:

[babylonsister]

2. Sounds like she'd be happy to join you if she hasn't already!

:hi:

[babylonsister]

3. Kick for a brave mom. nt