by croberts

Created on: February 18, 2007   Last Updated: September 17, 2010

I have three sons, two I have watch go off to the Army. The first one was post 911 and did his time, got out just as 911 happened. I always knew that he served because of family tradition and it wasn't his cup of tea. When he left war was not heavy on my mind, I was filled with pride when the recruiter came. I knew he was going away a young man and coming home an adult. I missed him and waited for every letter to come, he was first to leave home I still had three there, so empty nest was not so bad.

Then my daughter went off to college after being turned down by the military for a bone tumor. Empty nest began to kick in a little but I still had 2 at home.
Four years later our second son joined the Army Infantry. I had the same feeling of pride and knowing that he would come back a changed man, all for the better. Yet, fear was high on my list for him. He not only went infantry after 911 but Rangers to boot. He graduated high school May 28, and the recruiter came June 14.I was scared for him and very worried. But reminded myself that he had basic, Air borne school and Ranger school before deployment , that was a way off.

Empty nest was hitting me hard on top of my worries for him when the recruiter came. But being the good mom, I held back my tears, smiled, took pictures and hugged him to death. Then all too soon he was gone and the tears came like a river. My best friend did all that she could to comfort me. My husband was too busy being the proud papa to notice that I was in melt down, till he came looking for me and saw the tears.

Basic came and went , then Air borne school was gone Rangers flew by and he was assigned to Fort Drum in NY. By March he was in Afghanistan, we lived by the phone too afraid to leave it. In June he got his first two week leave and it was great to have him home. All too soon though it was over and he went back. Again the tears came and we stayed by the phone.

July 5, we got the call that we dreaded getting, he had been shot but was alive. I can't tell you how bad that was,I was in a daze most of the time living from one phone call to another. Waiting for him to be brought state side where we could finally be with him. Although this may sound strange, once I saw him, I knew that we were luckily. He was a live unlike so many that serve in this day and age.We were given a second chance with him, I thank God every day for that!

Now our youngest is talking to a recruiter and deciding whether he will go in also. I don't mind telling you as a mother I have asked him to wait, even his brother has asked him to wait, it is so hard for the kids that our serving overseas right now. As a mom, I just don't know if we can get that lucky a second time, so now I wait with baited breath to see what he will do. If he enlist I will be just as supported as I have been with the other two, but there will not be enough tissues in this world to dry up my tears as our last child leaves with the recruiter this time.

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