Originally posted by ChrisH
You and Joey are in my thoughts and prayers, as are all the men and women who are called and involved in this crisis. May peace prevail and all come home safe.

chris
I don't know what else to say that Chris hasn't already said above.

I can't imagine sending a loved one off to war (even though it's not technically war yet). I agree with everyone though that you need to be strong and smile as you wave goodbye, because I'm sure he will have that scene in his mind quite a lot while he's gone, but it wouldn't hurt to breakdown either so he has no doubt that you really do care and will be waiting for him when he gets back.....just be sure and smile in the end.

I can totally understand your fears about how all this will change him, but I think that will depend a lot on what kind of action - if any - he sees, and I'm sure any changes will only be for the good.

As an example, Terry was in the Marines and did 2 tours in Vietnam and one in Cuba (if any of you remember Cuba?). I didn't know him then because I was just a kid of about 6 years old, but I do know that he says military service was the best thing that ever happened to him and if he had any sons they would serve their time before being released to the rest of their lives. The one thing I like about him that came as a direct result of Vietnam is that he doesn't like guns and will not have one in the house. He said he has seen what guns can do to a body and he wants nothing to do with them. I so like that attitude.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that all you can do is take it one day at a time and pray that he is ok.

Hopefully it will not come to war though.......

One thing that might help while he is gone is see if you can find an elderly lady, maybe in a nursing home or something, who sent a loved one off during WWII. You could spend some time with her and get her perspective on it since she has gone through it, and she would probably love the company of having a youngster to talk to and reminisce to....just a thought.....