Need to vent...

Obi Once

So a friend i've known for more than half of my life will soon be fighting in Afghanistan. He's an officer in the Marine Corps, so likely they won't be handing out flowers. And in all honesty, it scares the crap out of me. This weekend alone 2 marines died and 1 got his legs blown off.

Sian-of-the-dead

Obi Once wrote:

So a friend i've known for more than half of my life will soon be fighting in Afghanistan. He's an officer in the Marine Corps, so likely they won't be handing out flowers. And in all honesty, it scares the crap out of me. This weekend alone 2 marines died and 1 got his legs blown off.

Holy shit man, my thoughts go out to you. I couldn't begin to imagine how worried you are.
Your friend is doing something that the western world respects so much, is extremely thankful for and that he obviously loves, try to think positively. Don't dwell on the negative in the media. Out of the thousands of troops over there the majority come home safe to worried friends and family like yourself.

Your friend is doing something I could never, it's thanks to brave men like him and in the British army that we are able to try and fight for peace in this world. I just wish I could thank them all.

Obi Once

Sian-of-the-dead wrote:

Holy shit man, my thoughts go out to you. I couldn't begin to imagine how worried you are.
Your friend is doing something that the western world respects so much, is extremely thankful for and that he obviously loves, try to think positively. Don't dwell on the negative in the media. Out of the thousands of troops over there the majority come home safe to worried friends and family like yourself.

The odds are indeed good, and the Dutch have for a long time been called the lucky Dutch, because there have been no causalities. He is one tough mofo and trained with the best, he is smart and the best off his class.

Your friend is doing something I could never, it's thanks to brave men like him and in the British army that we are able to try and fight for peace in this world. I just wish I could thank them all.

I've always been in agreement with the mission in Afghanistan, and believe it's for the best of the world and most of all the people there who have not had a normal war-free life for decades.

I couldn't fill his shoes, I'm a lover not a fighter. It's been a roller coaster ride since he told me and it's today, my 1st day off, that it all sank in.

Sian-of-the-dead

Obi Once wrote:

The odds are indeed good, and the Dutch have for a long time been called the lucky Dutch, because there have been no causalities. He is one tough mofo and trained with the best, he is smart and the best off his class.

I've always been in agreement with the mission in Afghanistan, and believe it's for the best of the world and most of all the people there who have not had a normal war-free life for decades.

I couldn't fill his shoes, I'm a lover not a fighter. It's been a roller coaster ride since he told me and it's today, my 1st day off, that it all sank in.

Thats the way to think... he's TRAINED to do what he does, he's one of the best in the world

The fact that you agree with the war is a good thing, at least you understand WHY. Still, I know it can't make it any easier.

I'm with you on being a lover, not a fighter. We owe so much to those who are the fighters. Fighters for causes they may not believe in and people they may never meet. One of the most admirable things any human being can do.

Will you be keeping in touch with him via email?

Obi Once

Not sure how and if we can stay in touch, I heard the news a few days ago and it left me rather speechless. 1st reaction was very.. dunno.. baffled or flabbergasted would cover it partly. We talked rather professional about the men in his team, the culture, the mission and how he felt.

Sian-of-the-dead

Obi Once wrote:

Not sure how and if we can stay in touch, I heard the news a few days ago and it left me rather speechless. 1st reaction was very.. dunno.. baffled or flabbergasted would cover it partly. We talked rather professional about the men in his team, the culture, the mission and how he felt.

It's a shame you might be able to stay in touch, when does he go? Any chance you could get his email before he goes? I watched a programme about the special ops in Afghanistan and they all used computers to email friends and family? I don't know if it'd be possible... just an idea

Thats good that you had a good chat to him before he went, as long as he knows you're there and care for him, he'll need people like you

How long is he out there for?

Obi Once

Sian-of-the-dead wrote:

It's a shame you might be able to stay in touch, when does he go? Any chance you could get his email before he goes? I watched a programme about the special ops in Afghanistan and they all used computers to email friends and family? I don't know if it'd be possible... just an idea

Thats good that you had a good chat to him before he went, as long as he knows you're there and care for him, he'll need people like you

How long is he out there for?

He will be away for 5 months and leave in March, so we'll have time to talk more and organize something for him, he will be back when a friend of ours gets married. I suspect with all sorts of portable technology available E-mail will be a very likely option to stay in touch and yeah we have had each others addresses for over a decade we just didn't talk about the topic yet.

decides2dream

i am so sorry obi. :(
i wish your friend all the best, hope he returns home safe and sound.

tylerpjtx

yeah one of my good friends just shipped out. had to say goodbye a couple weeks ago. it was rough...he's a tough son of a bitch though so i'm just counting on that i guess...pray for him quite a bit.

jammergirl

so sorry to hear that, man. i'm sure he'll be all right. when my brother was in afghanistan, it was not fun to say the least. be sure to send your friend a letter or package sometime, my bro and other army friends say they value actual letters over everything. keep us posted on how he's doing!

stu gee

I know quite a few people who have been serving in Iraq and afghanistan, two of my close friends included who were both in Bagdhad and Basra. A guy i played in the same football team with when i was a kid was killed in afghanistan last year too, was a real shame, really sound guy as well. Hope your friend is ok.

Obi Once

tylerpjtx wrote:

he's a tough son of a bitch though so i'm just counting on that i guess...pray for him quite a bit.

I'm counting on the same thing. Plus the training.. Pretty impressive, intense and broad. Prayers are not my thing, but we can all be positive in our own way. He's been around for a while and he'll be back again

jammergirl wrote:

when my brother was in afghanistan, it was not fun to say the least. be sure to send your friend a letter or package sometime, my bro and other army friends say they value actual letters over everything. keep us posted on how he's doing!

Good to know your brother came home and thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to send something. I would never had thought of that, thank you.

stu gee wrote:

I know quite a few people who have been serving in Iraq and afghanistan, two of my close friends included who were both in Bagdhad and Basra. A guy i played in the same football team with when i was a kid was killed in afghanistan last year too, was a real shame, really sound guy as well. Hope your friend is ok.

Good to hear people are coming home too. Sorry to hear about your teammate..

Obi Once

jammergirl wrote:

when my brother was in afghanistan, it was not fun to say the least. be sure to send your friend a letter or package sometime, my bro and other army friends say they value actual letters over everything.

I have not send something yet, but before he left we all gathered pictures and stories and gathered them in a book, which turned out nice and the idea originated in this thread.

keep us posted on how he's doing!

Good, the impressions of actions sound scripted, nothing left to chance.. It's front line tho, in touch with what seems everybody there, seeing and hearing everything, managing operations..

_Crazy_Mary_

I understand your concern for your friend. I'm sure he'll be fine. 43,000 people die in the US each year in car crashes, you should be more concerned about anybody you know who drives or rides in a car.

josevolution

all the best to him .......

in_hiding79

My nephew leaves on the 17th of May to go to Afghanistan! He's a green beret!

We are all so freakin worried about him...!!

Obi Once

_Crazy_Mary_ you have a point in regards to chances. I'll keep it in mind.

in_hiding79 wrote:

My nephew leaves on the 17th of May to go to Afghanistan! He's a green beret!

We are all so freakin worried about him...!!

I guess the US Elites will be fighting too and I think that's a 'safer' position than in a humvee patrolling an area.
About the worrying it's the same here, but for some reason the day he left worrying changed for me in confidence. I trust him doing all he can and him taking care of himself and his crew.

Heineken Helen

Sian-of-the-dead wrote:

Thats the way to think... he's TRAINED to do what he does, he's one of the best in the world

The fact that you agree with the war is a good thing, at least you understand WHY. Still, I know it can't make it any easier.

I'm with you on being a lover, not a fighter. We owe so much to those who are the fighters. Fighters for causes they may not believe in and people they may never meet. One of the most admirable things any human being can do.

Will you be keeping in touch with him via email?

*bites tongue til it bleeds* :eek:

Obi I know how you feel... I'm not so worried about my brother in Kosovo but I was terrified for him when he decided to go to Liberia... cos he was one of the first to go and it was unknown territory. Luckily it all went well... just remember it's his choice and it's the life he wants to lead. I'm sure he doesn't want people worrying about him, but that's the harsh reality I'm afraid

Buru

Wow... this is a tough thing to handle
hope your friend is alright (and as safe as can be)

Obi Once

He's BACK!!!!

We just talked over the phone and we're meeting for lunch in 15 minutes!!

It's a beautiful day!

jammergirl

Obi Once wrote:

He's BACK!!!!

We just talked over the phone and we're meeting for lunch in 15 minutes!!

It's a beautiful day!

YEEAHH!!!!!

tell him thanks for his service, and give him a big hug for me!!!