by Shauna Kirk

Created on: January 30, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

From the time he was just three years old, my son wanted to be a "Soldier". When he was in High School and after being in both the Army and the Air Force ROTC, he decided he would be a Marine. He enlisted while he was still in 11th grade. He graduated in May and on July 5th, he was off to boot camp.

My son prepared me for his departure for 15 years. I soon began to look forward to him leaving for boot camp, not for my sake of course, but to see him achieve his dream. The Fourth of July was always a big celebration at our house. We were all about our country. When Dessert Storm began, we were at the local Navy base, supporting our troops, by protesting the protesters. He was just 11 years old then. We sang "Proud to be an American" as loudly and proudly as we could.

My son came home from boot camp a different person. He was somehow transformed. At that time I couldn't figure out exactly what it was. I could see it in the back of his eyes. He was always a respectful, well disciplined person. No, it was something deep that I could not comprehend.

My son received orders to go to Iraq in late December. The excitement overcame him. This is why he joined the military, to prevail for good. We studied the bible before he left for boot camp and had become confident that this was the call for his life, his divine appointment if you will. We thought that it ironic that he would now serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I never again saw the son the left in January of 2003. In June of 2003 a man returned in my son's place. It finally hit me, that look in the back of his eyes that I couldn't place. I hadn't seen my son since he left for boot camp.

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