Afghanistan

**jss** · 02-15-2010, 05:13 PM

Our oldest boy (24) is a Counter-intelligence Agent in the U.S. Army. Yesterday he left his wife and 11 month old daughter in Honolulu for a twelve month deployment to Afghanistan. Everything he does is classified, and by adding that his uniform is green, I have exhausted everything I know about what he does.

To those of you that can pray, please intercede for his safety over these next twelve months. To those of you who can't pray, please wish him well. I am absolutely as proud as any human can possibly be; but it's going to be a long year.

**Katie** · 02-15-2010, 05:24 PM

Even though I am in a Military family, I cannot begin to understand where our people in the forces get the courage and strength to do the jobs they do.

My prayers and best wishes go out to your son and his family...you included.

**ajj1001** · 02-15-2010, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by jss

To those of you that can pray, please intercede for his safety over these next twelve months.

Will do, I'm already praying it all goes very quiet over there and the danger reduces alot. My 23 is due to go out next year. Makes me feel sick thinking of it even now.

**Justin** · 02-15-2010, 08:05 PM

Jeff,

We will be praying for your son's safety and for your family to be strong during this time. Please send him our thanks for his service.

**jss** · 02-15-2010, 10:03 PM

Katie / ajj / Justin,

Thank you all so much! And Justin I will send him your thanks.

Katie / ajj, we Americans all so often tend to think that the world revolves around us, and forget that Afghanistan is a NATO operation; which of course includes Canada and England.

ajj, I knew that I would be both proud and nervous when the time came. But I'm doing Ok as is his mother; and when the time comes, you will too. If you can share it, what is your 23 year old's job in the military? I'm assuming he/she is in the British military? And I am with you; praying for the day that we can all beat our swords into plow shares.

**KBear** · 02-15-2010, 10:29 PM

Jeff, I will be praying for him and give him my sincere thanks for what he is doing.
I was just reading a piece in Reader's Digest today about Afghanistan, it was pictures from different war areas and there were several from there. We forget that we are at war, that men and women are voluntering to do this (what an amazing act of unselfishness and love for fellow man), and these people in these countries where we are fighting, what they go through everyday. I can't fathom life there and feel very blessed to live in a free country.

**ajj1001** · 02-16-2010, 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by jss

If you can share it, what is your 23 year old's job in the military? I'm assuming he/she is in the British military? And I am with you; praying for the day that we can all beat our swords into plow shares.

Yup, Royal Navy helicopter pilot, its going to be her first posting

.
Send him our best. We have such amazing young people.

**Dave** · 02-16-2010, 06:18 AM

We will pray for him Jeff. God Speed.

**Cindylou** · 02-16-2010, 07:56 AM

Jeff,

I too will be praying for your son and for your family during this extremely difficult time. My step-son also leaves in two weeks for Afghanistan (second tour....Iraq was first one), and he will be involved with classified military intelligence equipment. Don't know if they will cross paths? My step-son (he is really like a son, as I have been married to his Dad since he was 4 years old) got engaged on Christmas Day. Hard times. And yes, indeed, it is going to be a long year for us as well.

**jss** · 02-17-2010, 01:20 AM

Our youngest managed to get to his mother today online on Facebook from the Kuwait International Airport. He should be in the air by now for his last leg of his trip to Afghanistan. He should have his "boots on the ground" by the time we get up Wednesday morning.

Dave and KBear, thank you so much for your prayers and support! It means the world to his mother and myself. I will pass your thanks and well wishes on to the boy/Sgt.

Cindylou, please slap your son on the back for me! Has his fiance set a date for the wedding yet? Will they be getting married before the deployment? Does he suspect where he will be stationed yet (if he can say)? I know that is going to be a very difficult separation for the both of them. Ours told us that the goodbye at the Honolulu International Airport did not go well for either of them (VERY unlike him). I know you will let us know when he leaves.

ajj, ditto. It is nothing short of remarkable that the man/woman-power of this magnitude can be mustered on a non-compulsory basis. In the US we speak of "The Greatest Generation" (the ones that endured the Great Depression and then went on to defeat the Japanese, Fascists and Nazis - with some help from the British and Canadians of course). Certainly the current generation has not had the challenges of that generation; but no one can deny that their rise to the challenge has been anything short of magnificent. The next time the opportunity appears, please slap (or whatever the British do) your daughter on the back for me.