Are you personally connected to the Iraq and Afgan Wars?

It is said and written that given the all volunteer Armed Forces and the regional disparity of the members of the Armed Forces, that most Americans are removed from any real connection to servicemen and women in harms way.

A friend of mine's husband just came back from Iraq last month, and now she's been notified that she'll probably do a tour in "The Sandbox" starting in July.

I lost a friend to wounds sustained in a roadside bomb about 2 years ago, and I know at least 2 women who have or had son's serve in combat.

I was wondering if I'm the exception to the rule or do you guys know folks over there?

I think you can vote for each option that applies.

 

I don't. I wonder how much of it is that most of my friends are college-educated, and many view the military nowadays as simply a way to escape poverty. (That's the view a lot of people I know have, anyway.)

 

How about an option for someone who is/has served there?

 

Most of the commercials talk about getting money for college (insinuating they are targeting people who cannot afford it) and we have people who want to be president who open their mouth and insert both feet deeply by saying degrading things about the men in our military.

 

Done.

 

Thank you!

 

All five of the first five options.
My brother is an Army Ranger. I've come to know some of the wives and families of guys who've been killed or injured in his unit. Their examples of grace and sacrifice under hardship are extraordinary.

 

From my experience with the soldiers I know and talk to, the idea that the Armed Forces is made up of kids escaping poverty is completely false. Solidly middle class, certainly not the East Coast suburban view of the middle class but definitely the Southern and Fly-Over variety.

The demographics of the soldiers, both killed and serving, is no where near the imbalance of the Vietnam era.

Poor leadership is killing the backbone of this country

 

My experience, too.

 

My brother left for his second tour in Iraq 2 weeks ago. Although we're not particularly close and have wildly differing political views, I'm very proud of him. My parents worry a lot. Nice thread.

 

A guy I went to college (and was friendly with) was over in Kuwait and was killed by someone who was supposedly on our side... left a wife and a young son. I believe he was among the first casualties in the Middle East.

http://www.post-gazette.com/World/20030324campattack0324P3.asp

 

A buddy from college e-mailed me this morning and said he is in Kuwait awaiting his Freedom Bird to bring him home.
Other than that, I've only met some people that have come back. Though a co-worker's brother just got back and I did a story on a coach that was sent to Iraq.