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Loonette....is your brother home yet?

Not yet. He was on leave in April, and spent his time with his wife in Germany. He is supposed to be done with this tour sometime in August. But we'll see - with fewer people signing up, US troops are receiving more and more extensions on their tours of duty.

We've had no contact from him since he returned in April. He was relocated to a much more remote area of Afghanistan, and their communications is highly limited. I'm sure he spends what little online time he gets communicating wtih his wife (who wouldn't?!). She relays info to us when she can. No news is good news at this point.

He and his wife plan to come visit in the States sometime next year - I can hardly wait. I haven't seen him since 2003, and that was a very short visit. My kids really only know him through stories at this point. I'd love for them to have a nice long visit with their uncle. (the last time he saw them, they were laughing their butts off at the sight of him and me wrestling with and punching each other. They don't play that way, and it was a bewildering sight to them).

Cheers,
Loonette

As a family we used to play like that all the time. We even had fake boxing gloves. I think my Dad was the biggest kid of all of us.

Thanks for the update.

loone,

i really enjoyed reading about your brother and how he is doing. God speed and thanks for sharing.

Best wishes to your brother, thank you for sharing Loonette.

Your brother sounds like a very bright articulate and insightful man. I hope that he can recover from his multiple tours. I live in a military town and so many of our men and women are over there now as well. It seems like a place that is really doing a number on both of our forces. Most of the countries are avoiding any of the high risk spots over there. And it is placing a high level of strain on the troops. Too many rotations and for too long. I wish him and all of your family the best.

Just found out that he's back in Germany now - his tour is finished. Before he left, he served as pall bearer for 9 (yes, 9) fellow soldiers who died in Afghanistan just before he was slated to leave. Turns out, they were killed in the very location where he had just previously been assigned. Man-o-man.

He planned to retire in about two years (putting in his 20 years), but the Army has dangled yet another carrot in front of him - if he re-enlists, they plan to eventually advance him to the rank of Sergeant Major. From what I have been told, this is the highest rank possible for a non-commissioned dude. If he re-enlists, this would surely mean more time spent in some hot spots, but it would also mean a better retirement package for him. I don't think he can manage well in civilian life at this point, so he will most likely take the Army up on its offer.

I'm just glad that he's safe and sound back at home with his "frau", enjoying some leisure time.

Cheers,
Loonette

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear he's doing ok.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to help my cousin. Her husband is still in afghanistan until next month some time - maybe. In the past 2 weeks he's lost 2 personal friends and many more brothers.
One of the soldiers who was killed recently is my cousin's daughter's best friend's dad. (sorry if it's confusing) These girls are 6. My cousin has been crying all day and is so scared.... what can I do for her?

CYNWAGON wrote:Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to help my cousin. Her husband is still in afghanistan until next month some time - maybe. In the past 2 weeks he's lost 2 personal friends and many more brothers.
One of the soldiers who was killed recently is my cousin's daughter's best friend's dad. (sorry if it's confusing) These girls are 6. My cousin has been crying all day and is so scared.... what can I do for her?

Find out how to phone him....so she can talk to him......