The American Spectator

At Large

(Page 2 of 2)

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It's hard to talk [to my husband in 1st Battalion] on the phone and not be able to know what he is doing or what all is happening. It always makes me feel better when I know what's happened even if it is good new or somewhat scary news. So what I am getting at is that I enjoyed reading your articles and seeing the pictures. Just hearing what they are going through for our country makes me so proud that I married into the military!

br> So "No news is bad news." Repeatedly I found troops were trying to spare their parents, but the parents didn't want to be spared. One wrote: "As a mother, I need to know what he's going through -- not to torment myself but to better prepare for his state of mind when he returns." Another: "[My son] can not say what he does. All I get is 'I am good' but he sounds tired. You gave me some insight into his life." It was signed, "Scared mom of Spc. [omitted]."

Others were grateful the world was hearing of the men's sacrifice. Predictably, not many reporters go to Corregidor, and often they cut their trips short if they do. (One embed there was recently shot twice by a sniper.) "Damn -- at last!" read one of the e-mails. "Someone finally went into Ramadi and stayed for more than 15 minutes to cover the real deal. I speak to [my brother] once or twice a week and have heard only a little of what you observed. The activity and hardship endured by these soldiers is incredible -- huh?"

Indeed.

topics:
Military, Iraq