My Brother..... please read

I'm so sorry to hear that, I wish they would just bring our guys home already! My neighbor just got back last year- he was there almost 1 year- he got hurt in the shoulder so they sent him home. I can't rell you that it will be easy- seems as though your brother has been in the service for some time- put your faith in him - more then likely he will be fine- all I can say is that I will pray for your brother in hopes that he will be home soon.

i will send my prayers for him and your family. He is a great man to be willing to protect our country. i have 2 cousins over there right now, and my best friends daughter just shipped out last week. I'm sure my heart along with many americans are very honored and proud to have your brother protecting us. God Bless

Hi This is from an "old soldiers" point of view. When we were fighting the IRA in Ireland, I had to go over there. The first time, I have to admit, I was worried, and I could see my wife was worried. You have to put a brave face on it, and hope, and pray, that you actually get to come home!! Then I was sent again, and again, and again!! You get used to it! You also worry about folks back home, and how they feel about it. The other thing is, when you join the Army, you know that you could go into a situation. The Army training is BRILLIANT!!!! After that, it is down to a little luck, and be vigilant.

Well remember he is in the hands of the greatest military in the world. With over 100,000 troops in Iraq and 3000 deaths over 3 years, the percentage chance of him being lost isn't that bad. If he's that experienced, I'm sure he'll be fine. And we'll all wish him the best.

My thoughts are with you, your brother and your family. He's serving his country. I'm sure that if you asked him, he would tell you that he NEEDS to do this. That seems to be the feeling of most servicemen and women. I admire his commitment and his service to our country. At the same time, I hope he is able to come home safely very soon.

Dear Kris: I appreciate your situation and hope you find the strength to endure. I am proud of your brother and all of our nation's armed forces; I pray for them and their families continually. Look at your situation this way: the odds are in your, and your brother's favor. The odds of his being killed or wounded are one out of 130,000, more or less. He'd be in worse danger of being shot if he lived in our nation's capital! Your fretting won't make him any safer. Just tell him you're proud of him and can't wait for him to return. God bless the both of you (and his three children.)

I will keep you and your family in my prayers and hope he makes it back safe and sound. I only know a friend of mine who has a son over there and he is also a sargaent.

Kris, there's nothing we can do but pray for his safety. Worrying does not help at all. I am with you in prayers, not only for your brave brother but for all the soldiers out there.

my friend, your brother is a soldier and he is doing his duty. soldiers are really great and worth of great respect. they make us sleep fearless sacrifying their nights. they are the people bcz of who, we the civilians feel safe and secure. since US army is trying to establish peace in Iraq, you must understand that your brother is leaving for a good porpose. so dont think this way , only pray for him. nothing would happen wrong with him. God bless your brother.

Since he has all these years in the army, I believe he will be just fine. He should be aware of what all will happen or can happen which will make him more careful. He's not a rookie, he'll be just fine. I would be scared too if I were in your shoes, just for the fact of it being my brother and the not knowing what might happen, but you need to realize how much experience does help make the percentage a lot higher for his return to safety. Hang in there, he'll be fine.

It is very scary. I will keep Paul in my prayers. Wishing him safety and you and your family peace. :)

it's really brave and selfless of your brother to go to iraq. all we can do for him and for your family is to pray. i'm sure god will reward your family for this courageous act of your brother.

we already feel what you feel, because my aunt is also a U.S. army, but thank God she go home with no bruises at all. Just pray for your brother.

Hi Kris, I know exactly how you feel. My brother is in the Canadian Air Force and did a few weeks in Afghanistan last summer and has to go again in a couple of weeks. Luckily it's just for 6-8 weeks and not 6 months like the army guys have to do, but everyday he was there all I heard about or read was about the base where he was stationed in Kandahar being attacked and bombed and about US & Cdn soldiers being attacked in their vehicles outside the base. And everyday we seemed to hear about more of our soldiers being killed. Very scary! But they are there for us defending their countries. As much as I think we have no business sending our people over there to fight a fight that's none of our business, and be put in harm's way for this, I am still proud of the soldiers who are doing their duty for their countries. God bless, I'll be praying for you and your brother and your family.

I myself am 37, my only kid is 15 (so far, I'd like to have another!) and I would only be able to hope for everyones love and prayers to travel with me through my journeys, safe and/or dangerous.I think it will his biggest blessing to think of you and the rest of his family keeping the home fires burning and making sure there is a wonderful place to come home to.That counts for a whole lot, you're staying strong and confident.Good luck and many angels to him.Stay gold and continue putting out your best vibes to him!!

I have a friend that served 2x there and we wrote to him often. While I cannot say it's a sure thing your brother will be safe... the odds are that he will be safer then you think. There are so many people over there and while I know we see the ones that die, they simply don't show the ones that LIVE each day! Remind your daughter that thousands come home safely and that the power of prayer can do wonders. If he is meant to be safe, God will watch over him. In the mean time, I will keep him amongst the many I pray for over there. And rest assured that sending him little cards, notes, and even boxes of goodies will help YOU make the time go by quicker and feel a bond to him. I guess you cannot promise anything to your daughter, but you can perhaps make her feel somewhat better knowing that there are hundreds of stories out there of men and women who come home safely!

I don't have any family there, but your family will definately be in my prayers. It is a great service these men and women are doing for our country and I for one deeply appreciate it.

I am Italian, I do not know anything of the situation in Iraq, I cannot call you anything new the TV does not say. I believe in the destiny ... ... I imagine your worries, but it is different to imagine. I hope together with you who the destiny is to your favour.

You have to think postive about this. Your brother has never been deployed to Iraq since joining in 1990? He's one lucky man. As a aunt, you can help out a lot with the kids. Take them to the park, the movies, little things to help take there mind off there dad. Also be there for your sister in law. She's going to get very lonely. So help her with finding a hobby, maybe one that her and the kids can do. I don't know if you will read this in time. But you can get your brother to make a tape of him reading a story for the kids. Or telling the kids how proud he is of them. You as a sister, just have to have faith that he will return safely. Show your supprt, by getting some yellow ribbons and putting them outside so everyone can see. Tieing yellow ribbon from your car antenna. Also join a military support group. Make sure you get his mailing address, so you can send him care packages. Call around and see if places would like to donate calling cards for him and his unit so they can call home and not worry that his family will have a 500 dollar phone bill. Go to www. military.com, it has a lot of interesting things to know and do. I would say he's in my prayers. But all troops going, that's in country and coming home are in my prayers.

Although I'm not an American or living in the American soil either, but I truly emphatize with what you're going through. Having watch the daily news, I just don't understand the war that is going on. I kept asking myself....when will it gonna end? Every night, I prayed for world peace. I guess its the only way we can do because we can't control the situation that is going on. Only prayers work. My prayers will be with you always.