I had to think long and hard about what to say regarding my family's history of service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Most of them have served in peace time situations, a few have experienced the ugliness of war. I wanted to make sure as I'm writing this blog I was giving the men in my family the proper respect they most certainly deserve. So with that in mind, let me introduce you to them.
Four generations of men in my family have served in the military, starting with my grandfather in the United States Army. He was one of the lucky ones to have served during peace time and everytime he was deployed overseas he came home safe and sound. My step father in-law (U.S. Navy) and brother (U.S. Army) also served during peace time. My father served with the U.S Air Force (25 years) going to Viet Nam three times. He was lucky enough to come home each time but always had horror stories of his time spent there. Several stories would bring tears to my eyes. To this day I'm so grateful he stayed safe and was able to come home. Many of his friends weren't so fortunate.
Next, I have three brothers in-law who have served their time with the U.S. Armed Forces. One served twenty years in the U.S. Navy, one served ten years in U.S. Air Force (as a military police officer) and the other recently ended his career after six years in the Army. This young man was deployed three times to Iraq while in the Army and each time he was able to come home. Unfortunately he didn't come home completely intacted mentally. His physical body remains but the horrors of being in Iraq are forever cemented in his memory. He doesn't have to battle the "enemy" anymore on foreign terrority. Now he battles the "enemy" inside his head. Every day he deals with depression, anxiety and other issues many of our soldiers have to deal with on a daily basis. On top of that he lost his family when he came home. That, for him, was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Currently, my son in-law in serving in the U.S. Navy. He also served his time in Iraq (six months). He tells me the one thing that pulled him through everyday was music. Alot of his commarades used music as a way to calm their fears or nerves and give them solace in a place where bombs constantly went off. Sometimes they would be far away, sounding sort of like a simple thunder storm. Other times the explosions would be so close the ground would literally shake. He wondered if he and his companions would ever make it home. My son in-law plays guitar. Now that he's home I've watched him sit in the middle of the livingroom (on the floor), place his guitar in his lap and disappear into a world I know I'll never understand. Mainly because I've never been there or done it. He's settling his mind, focusing on the fact he's home now, safe and sound. Sometimes he can still hear those explosions but all he has to do is pull that guitar out, strum a few chords and feel the calming affect of music.
These are the men in my family who have served and are serving to keep our country safe and free. They, along with the thousands of other soldiers, sailors airmen and marines, have my deepest gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation for what they do. These men also have my undying respect as well.
AZsoul
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