Although he is not directly related to me.....

My best friend's husband is in the Marine Corps and has already served twice in Iraq and also has to go to Alaska and Arizona frequently. They have only been married for a little over a year and he has been gone for more than half of that time. She stays on base in their house and works, but I know it's lonely for her.

Her husband is scheduled to leave for California on August 20th and then on September 20th, leave to Arizona from California for another 6 weeks. Unfortunately, their first baby is due to arrive September 16 - while hubby is in California I feel horrible that she will be going through her last bit of pregnancy and first few months with the baby alone. She cannot come home because their insurance will not pay for the delivery if she leaves the area! So I have been travelling weekly to be with her for her labor and delivery classes - I get to be the labor coach! What an honor, but still so sad that he will not be there for his first child's birth

When he returns in November, he will stay home until around January or February, when he will be deployed to Iraq again, for 6 months to a year! He will be missing the first year of his daughter's life.......

God Bless our Troops - Keep them safe and bring them home soon!