I should have said - my kid - his war is over.

[Joe for Clark]

They are not going to send him back anymore - I am pretty sure. He had a lot of bad things happen - but he didn't get killed. If he turns out a little warpped from the war - my whole family is with him near the base and we all grew up with combat parents and brothers and know the drill. I spent days with him and stayed until I believed it was not an issue yet. You know if there is a psychological trauma -and you catch it fast - it can be successfully dealt with most of the time.

Harrass the base if you think there is an issue with yours - do it if is your kid - they'll step in for you at this point. Right now they are kinda sympathetic - that will change.

Now - what I say in an anti-war way - is purely something I felt on a level beyond that level of having my kid as a target - goes back to my earliest known beliefs about war from just my observations of it - not so personal to me any more. I can be a little more objective, best way to put it.

And objectively - maybe it is worse.

Joe

[Lasher]

1. I'm glad he's back home.

It's bad enough having to go through even one combat tour. I worry about the psychological impact these multiple tours are having on our soldiers.

[Joe for Clark]

3. He did 30 something months in combat - I was scared to death.

You know - My wife will never ever understand it. I think I'd like to keep it that way. I do love her and she doesn't have to know - the piss in your pants nightmares - all those things that go with a war.

She never heard the kid cry on the phone after an ambush. All she saw was his cat like ability to drop when a fire cracker went off - and he was good - amazingly cat-like. I watached and thought good - you do that you just might live. And I thought - thank god you didn't have my childhood.

You know I was never frightened about too much in my childhood - except one thing, one event. I was a little kid drawn to listen to the adults talking war - especially my dads whorehouse stories - I won't explain that - but sometmes they would gather - at family things. You have never seen such a gathering of warriors in your life fighter pilots, navy commanders, a general, many Sgts, Privates - Mid-way to Berlin - all these guys knew war so well. The stories - what fun to listen to - but there was a pointed moment - and they cried they all cried - for things they did mostly - or things they had to do to live - scares the living snot out of you when you are a kid. As I got older I could listen more and more to them. Never changed the hurt inside these guys and gal ( meaning mom).

No - he is in good hands up north cause every one of my family knows exactly what to look for - they "been there done that" - so to speak. I went up and evaluated for about 6 six days ( right at the end of tax season!) - there were some signs - no nightmares yet though - that is a big thing.

You know - this is a back post so I can do this I think. In maybe 12 months I will be teaching warfare at a community college - I have already reasoned out in my mind - I will scare the living snot out of every single kid I ever get in a freshman year situation - so that - they could put recruitters on the campus until kingdom comes- kids in my class - will walk away fast I think = that or it will have been their destiny.

Just show the reality - and make sure they know there is no glory - there isn't you know. There may be duty - but that is just a job in the end.

My kids are going to be "very judicious". And if in the rest of my life I just do that one thing - then I will be happy. One thing I really knew growing up - I knew what war really means.

Joe

[BelgianMadCow]

2. a

:hug:

[Nostradammit]

4. I wish all blessings on your son

I wish him peace.

I wish you luck in your teaching goals.

[Disturbed]

6. Good to know he is back & alright.

I hope you are alright, as well. I thank him for his service even though I hate these
Busholini Wars.

[Joe for Clark]

8. Than you wish him peace - not me. I know better.

The one way I AM catholic is in the right to life thing. Not abortion - that kids born have THE RIGHT to live. GOD damn. Look you are gonna die. We are all gonna die - but we don't have to have nightmares about death every other night. It is one thing to die - it is another thing altogether to have another persons death on your conscience. - Really.

I appreciate the thought - but you don't know the deal here.

You know I really am moderate about most things - not war. I can never be about that. Somebody better be invading Malibu to get me to believe in it - the cost is that high.

Joe

[Nostradammit]

35. With all due respect, I do know the deal

I know it too well.

I still wish him peace, which he will have one day.

[tkmorris]

5. OUTSTANDING!!!

Thanks for telling us Joe. You've spoken of him so much that it almost felt as if I had a somewhat distant relative over there. It's good to know he's home, hopefully for good.

[Joe for Clark]

13. Oh - he is one of all our distant relatives -

Just a decent kid.

They are all our kids. I will always feel that way.

Joe

[Az]

7. Good to hear Joe

Take care of him.

[Joe for Clark]

9. I do thank all of you - you know I appreciated being able to talk

about it with out scaring the shit out of my wife - I really did and I really say thanks.

It is been a very bad four years or so.

Joe

[graywarrior]

10. I have nothing I can say except you're a good man, Joe.

So is your son.

[Joe for Clark]

11. A good man, huh?

My mom died on October 13, 2001 - remember TV then??

She did the deal and as she was dieing then She yook the kids in, my kids - one by one - and explained painfully just what war meant - emploring them - don't do it! She knew what was coming - she knew!!!

The oldest - I blew it off for him - so he went. Mom was dead a year to that first scary phone call, the first shoot out ambush - I can close my eyes and feel that fear. My god she knew. And I think - who the hell was I to talk of war - and I am the dumb bastard that said go - right thing to do ( he was suppose to go to Khandahar) - How patriotic.

When you see moron in a dictionary - should have my picture next to it.

He went out once to get lunch, standing next to a girl. She didn't die - she was fucking vaporized.

And I said ok to join the army????

No - not this army.


Joe

[lildreamer316]

12. You're still a good man.

and I have great love for you and your family.

[Joe for Clark]

15. I over ruled my mother - a distinguished combat veteran -

she was the lady that saved your ass at the Bulge - you know?? Hell - I can only imagine what dad would do to me - Fighter pilot and all that - Hunter killer - with my kid - telling him it was ok to go??

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO KILL SOMEBODY - Unless someomne was going to kill me - can't do that.

They did - I was wrong. Very wrong.

Patriotism - is bullshit, has no merit on its own weight - lasts just until that time you have to kill. In your life you may have to be a patriot = you may have to kill =- the difference is - you will never doubt what you have to do or why.

Then all the rules change.

He was looking to me. Mot my mom and dad - and I was never so happy for the VN vets in my life.

They think maybe they didn't accomplish any thing - well buddy, maybe you guys are going to stop a third world war in the end.

[rubberducky]

14. I`m so happy for you and your family.

PEACE

[Nutmegger]

16. Hello Joe for Clark.

Thank you for this.

:hug:

[Joe for Clark]

18. Stop it - stop it -

This is suicide - fighting for a paradigm that hasn't existed for 70 years.

Thank me???

I meant what I said - everything I said. I like the kids.

Get them out - there is a cliff out there.


For Christ sake those are just little children.


Let them go - let those kids go.

You guys want this war do it.

You people know war - truth is you don't knnow anything.

Figure it out - just not on our kids blood.

Joe

[OzarkDem]

20. Kids don't deserve this war

Our generation will feel guilty for what's happened for years to come.

They shouldn't have to do this, they don't have to do this. A totally unnecessary war that has harmed so many.

Glad your son is back, I hope he heals his wounds, psychic and otherwise and returns to his own life and future.

[Sneaky Sailor]

17. Im glad he is back

Some of us on here have been through what he is going through, let us know if we can help.

[flashl]

19. Glad your son is home. Praying for healing. nt/

[Marrah_G]

21. I am so happy he is home Joe

My brother touched down in VA last night. Just like you, I'm going to keep fighting to make sure the rest come home and that no one has to go back.

~great big hugs to you and your son~

I know how terrible this has been for you. Perhaps now you can find a little more peace.

[Joe for Clark]

22. Listen closely - I think I have an idea what it looks like

When people let go from war - I think - been to a few suicides - all that -tried to be observant.

It is a look in the eye - the quantity of nightmnares - things you have to see to know.

I want no more kids hurt - We can stop this one.


None

[Lasher]

23. You and I need to have a beer.

But that's not likely to happen. I'll bet you've got a friend there who would like to suck up some suds with you. Some things are just better with beer.

Lasher

[Joe for Clark]

26. I have had the worst 72 hours of my life.

Beer - no I am thinking mega coffee- Dosen't mater.


Joe

[Lasher]

27. Whatever works for you.

I'm usually around in case you want to chat more.

Look at the bright side. He made it home safe.

Lasher

[Joe for Clark]

28. He did.

I don't talk about anything else - war is diffrent - to me. Unnatural death.

Young kida.

War is diferent.

joe

[DemReadingDU]

24. Glad you son is home

[babylonsister]

25. 'His war is over'. I'm so happy for you, Joe. I know how worried

you've been, and will continue to be, but your son is home. I'm so glad for you. And him. The rest you both have to deal with. But this is a happy ending, when there are so many that aren't. Welcome home, Joe. Jr.

[ljm2002]

29. That is good to hear, Joe...

...very good to hear.

Here's hoping you and your family can get him past the psychological stuff, it sounds like you've got a good handle on it.

Hooray!

[JohnnyLib2]

30. I'm so glad he's back.

We're near Ft. Knox, know the look in the eyes you talk about. Time for family strength, not much time for regrets. Fight on.

[JeffR]

31. I'm glad he's home Joe, and I hope he'll be OK

Watch him, and watch yourself.

Best of luck.

[Swede]

32. I am glad for you Joe.

Now for the healing for you and your clan.

[renate]

33. I'm so glad he won't be going back

... and so glad he has a loving, supportive family to help him recover.

:grouphug:

[Stinky The Clown]

34. Hang in there, Joe .... no doubt your kid is proud of his Dad.

And no doubt you're proud of him.

[Hekate]

36. I'm so glad he is home, and wish you both peace in your hearts.

Take care of yourself, Joe, as well as your son.

Hekate