Was Doodling The Other Day And... It Is Still Rough Around The Edges ...But Wanted To Share!

Dealing With Deployment In Iraq; One Aunts Perspective
By Tracye Wynne Malone Prewitt

When we heard the news of our nephew, Jonathan’s deployment last August we were floored. It had been in the back of our minds ever since he joined the National Guard that he could be deployed but we were hopeful that he wouldn’t have to serve. With his deployment came the difficult chore of saying goodbye! We stood strong but inside we were so afraid, sad, and bewildered. We still are scared. Everyday watching CNN is; hold your breath time. We have also had to come to the realization that he has grown up; this little toe headed boy that we love so much (aren’t you supposed to be 12?)… We look at him now and realize that he is a young man… he is a son, a husband, a grandson, our nephew, and a soldier. He makes us so proud because he is serving our country with compassion for his fellow soldier and the Iraqi people. He has sent us pictures of him with the Iraqi children and it warms my heart that their first impressions of America are of Jonathan. He is a typical American boy… clean cut, kind, reverent, patient especially with kids, sincere, and loving… his smile is radiant. My two sons adore him and he is their hero. I know the children of Iraq love him as well because he is one of those people children are enamored with usually from the first meeting. We check email a lot more now than we did before; we watch the news more than we did before; and I think we pray a lot more than we did before. We all have been strong through this (or at least have tried to be strong we do have our moments) and I guess that is what military families do we just dig in and get through it. Being new at the military family thing; we have had times of not doing so well with this. I want to hear from him daily and if I don’t hear from him for a week or two; I get a little antsy. I know he can’t tell me much but I just want to know he is ok. Thank God for SFC Kevin Kelly’s daily blog, Wayne’s World blog, and the Dixie Sapper website… they all keep me up to date and sane! We here at home are trying to help in the humanitarian side of this war… there have been families, churches, schools collecting shoes, school supplies, toys, candy, etc for the children of the villages where our nephew and his fellow soldiers patrol. They have adopted a school so we also have adopted that school. Then there is Mohammed who has captured all of our hearts. He is a little boy with major medical problems, who our nephews unit found by accident. Now we are all trying to get this little boy to the USA for much needed surgery. I think this child probably thinks that Americans are wonderful because every time the unit goes to his village now they take him boxes of goodies from all of us back here at home. I have tried to get a box of letters to send the soldiers so that one mail call every soldier gets a letter. I call it Letter’s From Home like the country song. We are about half way through our deployment now and I wonder what more do these brave Mississippi sons and daughters will face … they have lost friends due to IEDs, they have faced mammoth sand storms, 130 degree temperatures. They have been chased by featherless chickens and three legged dogs… What lies ahead of them… I worry about the ones who have seen the horrors of war and what these images will do to their hearts and minds in the years to come. We must celebrate them all home with much fanfare we must never allow liberals and activists to scar their homecoming like they did the brave soldiers returning from Vietnam. We must welcome these warriors home with love, gratitude, and thanks for a job well done. We got to see our nephew in May he got to come home for R&R for 14 days. While home he presented his brother with his high school diploma … he was very emotional and meaningful to us that he was greeted with the cheers of the stadium as well. These young men and women are after all serving the cause freedom, liberty, and democracy; and they are insuring that these blessings will prevail not only for the US but for the world. My wish is for the Iraqi people to drink in their new found freedom and embrace democracy for what it is… and their country will flourish and be a shining example to the rest of the region. For all the soldiers with the 155 and their families who have sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice we salute your memory.. you died a hero… To the soldiers who are coming home scarred and physically changed forever we salute your sacrifice for our country. We will take up your mantle and charge forth renewing ourselves to the causes of freedom around the world. To the terrorist who is hell bent on destruction and death … what kind of God promotes murder? Why don’t you want to live in peace? What is so wrong with watching your region flourish and grow into the beautiful desert oasis that it used to be before all the killing… look around you… look into the eyes of the children of your country and see the fear and the hopelessness… you put that sadness there…. Why? For What? I think that your God would be and is very upset with you… this is not what he wants… this is not what anyone wants… Let it go and put your hate in God’s hands and let him reconcile it. And finally to my nephew and all those who are serving in Iraq and around the world… you stay safe … keep your faith, remember that God will make a way when there seems to be no way! Let us at home hear from you and watch out for each other. Love the children of Iraq for they are the future enemies or allies that our children will have to deal with one day. We love you all and we are so proud to call you all Mississippians and Americans!