Let them talk war...

Many of our fathers are WW II and Korean War Vets.

I am grateful that this war (not that I am gratful for war!) has allowed my dad to tell some of his war stories. This has never happened before. It has always been something that we didn't talked about.

Yesterday he was sharing stories, I was asking questions, and he was empathizing with our soldiers fighting this war.

I have read books about war and seen movies, but to hear Dad tell it like it is was, touched me. It also educated me on the day in and day out events of living with your home on your back, FEARing for your life and the lives of fellow soldiers.

I encourage you to try to talk with war vets. I think it blesses everyone involved.

I am aware that many of the women in this forum may have spouses that fought in Viet Nam, or children in the Gulf War...I guess the same goes for those stories. The memories must be tough, but sometimes when shared, it heals. How corny, but "Friends Heal Friends"

This is very true, Dotsie. My dad was never in the service, due to a heart murmur, but he was ready and willing to go if the military would take him during WWII.
My husband served in Vietnam from Sept. '68 to Sept. '69. He talked a lot about his experiences, and many a night I cradled him in my arms while he cried like a baby for the friends he lost. He described wounds and friends being killed right beside him during battles. He told of booby traps, Agent Orange, fire fights, and other horrible things that are routine during military battles. I listened and supported him always. He told me about a young woman who met him in the airport when he first stepped foot back in the USA after returning from Vietnam. She ran up to him, spit on his uniform and called him a "baby killer". That is the only time he has ever hit a woman.
My son served in the Marines during the first Gulf War. He told me about accidentally getting within 2 miles of the Iraqi border when his global positioning equipment failed during maneuvers.
I hope our troops return home quickly and safely, but I know there have been casualties and likely will be more yet. I pray for the families of these servicepeople. They will need all of our support.
It is never easy to listen to these stories, but I have found that those that talk about it and don't keep it buried inside usually adjust much better to civilian life.