(Tammy) Duckworth husband is headed to Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0702150101feb15,1,4022685.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Duckworth husband is headed to Iraq
National Guard officer set to leave in March

The husband of Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth is being deployed to Iraq, where his wife lost her legs in a helicopter crash before making a bid for Congress.

Maj. Brian Bowlsbey, 39, a longtime National Guardsman who lives in Hoffman Estates, said he did not consider seeking an exemption to allow him to remain with his wife.

"It's not something that we're really eager to do, but it's part of the job and we've trained for it for 19 years," he said Wednesday. "If you believe in the United States you stay in and you keep doing it and you accept the risk.

"I knew, sooner or later, , there just aren't that many people, and I'm one of the only ones who haven't been and some of the Guard have been twice," he said. "It's going to be difficult and we've done some planning, although I want to emphasize, everyone has these life issues, everyone that deploys has them."

[jarnocan]

1. wow, so sad... but hope it will help some more folks face reality, nt.

[stellanoir]

2. Ouch

May they as a couple be miraculously protected from any further harm, injury, or loss.

[Demeter]

3. Is It Just Me, or Does It Sound Like This Marriage Is on the Rocks?

I detect a level of strain and stress due to life changes this couple has undergone--and I've never known miltary men to be particularly flexible in relationships....

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Odd you should mention that.

Before I even opened the thread, a nearly overpowering sense hit me that this marriage isn't going to make it. I got a bunch of impressions on WHY it's not going well too, but I'm not gonna air any more of my baseless thoughts in public.