ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Keri on February 28, 2011, 07:56:02 am
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Hello,
I've touched on this in other posts, and if you know me on facebook, I've share there as well. This Thursday my son, Scott (USAF Security Forces) deploys to Afghanistan for 6 months. I'd appreciate your prayers. It seems like so recently I was all stressed out when he was going through boot camp (BMT for the Air Force). Back then, a bunch of us moms wondered if our sons would survive that... well, that was nothing in comparison! Well, actually, it is, because it's the beginning of telling them 'goodbye'. But during the whole BMT thing, i remember Nancy mac telling me, 'Your son will be FINE!" and he was. He's done well in the AF and I'm thankful for the positive changes in him.
I know of several military moms on the forum that have been through this. I do pray for our troops, and also the whole difficult situation in that part of the world.
Scott leaves out of Offutt AFB (close to Omaha). He MAY have a layover at BWI (Balimore - right up the road from me) or in Norfolk (Lori - I may be heading your way!!). He will initially be on a charter or commercial airline, not military transport, so i'm HOPING AND PRAYING that I get to see him on his layover in this area.
Thanks for your support!
Keri
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Keri .....
My heart, and many, many prayers go out to you and Scott as he deploys to Afghanistan. I have two sons (neither in the military) and I can only imagine the stress/anxiety I would feel in your situation.
I sure hope you can figure out a way to see him on his layover!
Many thoughts and many prayers!
Clarice
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Hey, Keri...I can only imagine what it is like to send a son off to the military, much less to Afghanistan. I have 2 young adult sons, but neither considered the military, but I often wondered what it would be like if they had. Not sure if you remember NancyDrew who used to post here often, but her son was in Afghanistan a year or so ago - you may try a search on her and get in contact w/ her for support also. He got thru just fine!
Hugs to you and your family,
Cindy
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Keri,
Let me know if you'll be here and I'll either meet you at the airport or we can meet up somewhere else. They do have a nice USO at Norfolk airport and they take very good care of our heroes.
I know you can't help but worry, but he will be sent prayers for his safe return from all corners of the world. If you need any good ideas for care packages, let me know! And also, when you get his mailing address, send it to me. Our church sends out care packages too. We don't have a lot of Air Force personnel around here, so I'm sure it would be new and exciting for the ladies! ;)
My brother-in-law was at the same place in Afghanistan for 6 months doing security and training also. Hopefully it will go by quickly. He'll get through this just fine and so will you!
Lori
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Keri~
My heart goes out to you and like everyone else, I can't even imagine. HOWEVER, I am so thankful to HIM and all the other soldiers - past, present & future - that help me have the life I have!!
I will pray...
K ;D
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Keri,
My prayers are with your son and all military people deployed. Hopefully you can keep in contact with him via skype type stuff.
(My hubby was deployed at Camp Eggers with the AF for 6 months before things started heating up there).They keep them safe, you'll see.
Hand in there. Let us know how things go for him ;)
Maureen
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Keri,
As you know, I had two sons over in Afganistan..One went twice...So if you ever want to talk, give me a call...I tried to stay away from any form of news while my boys were gone. I dont know abut the US military, but the canadian one, well they have a family support unit that calls the parents of deployed sons/daugthers just to chat and make sure to answer any questions if we have any. I will keep you son in my thoughts and prayers.
JO
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Keri,
I too want to share in your concerns for the safe return of your son and the rest of our brave and valiant men and women,
who have given so much to all of us with their service! My son and my daughter are former Marines and my husband was in the Army.
They all chose to continue serving by joining the Police force in Oregon! We have lot's of family in harms way on a daily basis and never get accustomed to the worries.
I pray for you and your family and everyone who so unselfishly give their time to serve to keep us free!
Many prayers and blessings to you and yours,
Jackie
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Keri
First, please know, as a contractor for the USAF, this touches me a lot as many names that deploy are made aware to me..... so with that said, know that I send thoughts, prayers and wishes not just to your son, but to you and the family. May the "Air-men and women" of this country come home safe and sound, as well as those deployed from all other branches of the US Armed Forces.
Since your son is Security Forces (trust me, I don't like running into them around base either!), I know he is made of strong stock and that this "wingman" from Hanscom AFB is cheering him on. I know many at Offutt AFB (as I deal with many daily) and not sure which Directorate/Wing he is with (as it could be ours)..... know that Offutt offers up nothing but the best!
Hugglez to you... and special wishes to your son.
Phyl
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Keri ~
Thanks for updating us on your son's deployment to Afghanistan. Your anxiety is perfectly normal and whether or not we've have or had a similar experience, those of us who are parents can certainly sympathize with your emotions in this situation. I do hope you get that meeting with your son and of course, I'll pray for his safety and your peace as your son serves his country in a most honorable way. Please let Scott know that we're all grateful to him for his service and very much want him to stay safe as he carries out his mission in Afghanistan. God bless you both.
Jim
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Keri. I hope all goes well for your son and your family. My husbands nephew is over in Afghanistan and he is on facebook occ. So good to hear from him that way. His mom is not on it so I pass along what I see. She does talk to him but the time between varies. His funniest post was how he has done this scary thing or that scary thing. The worse was when a sheep ran at him recently and he let out a scream "like a little girl"
Too many people having to leave the country! Cheryl R
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Keri,
I will keep your son in my thoughts and prayers. My cousin has 18 days left there on his third deployment...the pictures he posts are awesome...but lots of snow. Chad says the best thing is getting packages in the mail that he can share.
Hugs,
Brenda
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as a mother of a service man who has been deployed , my heart is with you ...
will keep you and your son in my thoughts and prayers ...
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Ker:
I will keep your son in my prayers. I also pray that the longest US was ends.
Syl
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Keri .... prayers for Scott and your family. Also, big virtual hug for you!
Greg
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Keri, lots of prayers coming from NJ. Our nephew (we don't have kids, so he is like our own) has done 2 tours in Iraq so I can understand at least a little of what you are feeling.
Hugs to you and your family,
Debbi
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Keri,
As I mentioned on another thread, my son was in Afghanistan about 3 years ago, did 2 tours of Iraq before that so I understand how you are feeling now and will try and help you through this along with all the others here. As someone else mentioned, getting packages really makes their day especially when they get enough to share. Please feel free to send me his address when he gets one, if you can, I would love to send a package. I don't miss my son being deployed but I do miss having someone I can send packages directly to. My email address is in my profile. One advantage I had was access to his email account so I could check and see if he had read an email that day even if he didn't email me, that way I knew he was ok. I can't imagine what it was like in WWII where you didn't hear from your children for months on end. Bet you are already looking forward to the Holidays when he will be home again! Jill :)
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Jill,
It wasn't even that long go that you wouldn't hear from your family for months. Allowing e-mail is still a fairly new thing for the military. My husband was on a deployment in 2002 and it was just beginning to be alllowed then. It was very unpredictable and didn't work a lot of the time. Because every e-mail had to be "scrubbed", meaning someone had to read them all to remove anything that could be considered inappropriate or not safe, by the time the e-mail actually go to you or your servicemember, it was very old news. It wasn't much better than snail mail at that point. MUCH better now though, thankfully! I'm still amazed when I hear some of the young military wives talk about how they get phone calls from their deployed husbands every day!
Keri, you'll probably here from Scott more now than you did when he was in boot camp! And it sounds like he will have no shortage of goodie boxes! If he comes home 100 lbs heavier than he left, you'll know he didn't share!
But the best news....he's already one day closer to coming home!
Lori
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Jill,
It wasn't even that long go that you wouldn't hear from your family for months. Allowing e-mail is still a fairly new thing for the military. My husband was on a deployment in 2002 and it was just beginning to be alllowed then. It was very unpredictable and didn't work a lot of the time. Because every e-mail had to be "scrubbed", meaning someone had to read them all to remove anything that could be considered inappropriate or not safe, by the time the e-mail actually go to you or your servicemember, it was very old news. It wasn't much better than snail mail at that point. MUCH better now though, thankfully! I'm still amazed when I hear some of the young military wives talk about how they get phone calls from their deployed husbands every day!
Keri, you'll probably here from Scott more now than you did when he was in boot camp! And it sounds like he will have no shortage of goodie boxes! If he comes home 100 lbs heavier than he left, you'll know he didn't share!
But the best news....he's already one day closer to coming home!
Lori
next (quarterly) round of goodie-boxes from our AFB are being prepped now... "Wingmen" gotta stick with "Wingmen" (and then some!).
Keri, Hang tough and know there are LOTS of hugglez (as you can clearly see in this thread) to help.
xoxoxoxo
Phyl
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thanks, everyone!
he didn't have a layover at BWI (close to me), but did in norfolk. so i flew down here this morning and have been hanging out with him all day at the airport. i'm in lori's neck of the woods! his schedule is still up in the air.
i think he'll leave on a charter first thing in the morning. right now, they're just hanging around the baggage claim area... they have most of their stuff, but their weapons were too heavy for their flight, and they're waiting for another flight to bring them in. it's 'hurry up and wait' mode... but i get to hang out with him, so that's the greatest!
keri
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thanks, everyone. i got to see him thursday for about 7 hours. it was great. got to meet some of the others in his group as well.
thanks for you prayers and kind thought and encouragement! i haven't heard anything yet, nor do i know his address. i guess i'll get that ? well, whenever!
keri
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got my first call from scott today!! yay! it came at a time when i'm usually not at home. although i'm sure he would have tried my cell, it was a great call to get.
phyl, want to ask you in a pm more about offutt, etc. thanks for sharing!
i always have been concerned with my bad hearing (like if there's background noise) that i wouldn't be able to understand him but i could hear him just fine. i don't think he could hear me as well (lots of background noise on his end).
now i've got to get to getting a care package together to try to make it there for his 20th birthday (st patricks day). probably not very likely it will get there, but maybe a few days afterwards.
ikeri
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Kerri,
I am late in catching up on this thread. I am glad your son arrived safely and he was able to call you. I have two boys who live in other states from me and that is hard enough. I can't imagine them so far away in a war zone. I see from these posts that you will have a lot of support here from people who have gone through this before. I will be praying for your son.
Sandy