Heartbreak Warfare

As of this weekend, many of my friends' husbands are heading out to train up for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. I remember being there and doing that once before when John, my husband, left for Iraq. Never is there a more heartbreaking moment than sending your loved one off to war.

I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was a cool fall day in late October 2007. I remember thinking, How am I ever going to do this? How will I get through a whole year of being away from him? He was so handsome in his ACUs as he assured me it would be okay. He's a trained infantryman. He's smart and knows what to do and how to handle himself in a dire situation. You still can't help but think the worst in those situations, though. I held myself together until he got on the bus that was to take him to the airport. Then I lost it. He called me from the bus and was giggling because he thought I looked "cute" when I cried. Thanks?

It was literally the longest year of my life. I remember the first couple of months were awful. They literally dragged by. However, I tended to keep myself busy with work; gym dates with my friend Abbie, whose husband, Eli, was also deployed; and TV and movie nights with my friend and roommate, Angela, whose husband, Paul, was deployed with John as well. That's what you gotta do. Stay busy and keep yourself from thinking about them being gone. After those first couple of months, it was cake. Time seemed to fly--at least it did for me. Others may disagree. Plus he got to call me every day, which was nice. Sometimes it was at 3:00 a.m. our time (they were eight hours ahead of us in Iraq), and I wouldn't remember what either he or I said, but it was great just knowing he was okay.

One thing that bothered me when he was gone was the people who would find out he was deployed and then say, "Oh. I'm so sorry." Why are you sorry? He's off fighting for our freedom. I support his mission, and I support the war. He and I would both tell you to stop apologizing. There are other things people would say that bothered me, but to save political argument, I won't go there. The deployment did bring some good memories, though, for on July 24, 2007, during his two-week R&R, he proposed to me.

John is now out of the army. His ETS date was shortly after he got back. During his seven years in the military, he served in three deployments. I am so proud of him and his accomplishments.

So to all the girls I know who just sent their husbands off to war, this is for you. Being a military wife is not easy, but it definitely makes you a stronger person. John and I appreciate your sacrifice and your husbands' service and sacrifice more than you know. We wholeheartedly stand behind you and your families 100%. God bless America and you.