On Veterans day, not much was said about the parents of those Veterans.
Now that I am a father and grandfather, I look back on the many years of our family and wars. My oldest brother Mike served in WWII and my parents had to set at home with worry and little or no communications with him. Only the radio an his letters told of the war and if he was still alive. Then my brother Carl served in Korea, followed by me and my younger brother Dave in Viet Nam. One of the few times I saw my dad cry was when I left home bound for Viet Nam. That was when it hit me like a brick, here it is again, my mother and father are sending another son to war and they would spend nearly every waking moment worried about a son's safety again.
Not to mention the evening TV pictures of the dead and counted bodies. When I returned home, again my ageing parents sent yet another son to war. My heart ached for them.
God blessed them and their sons, we returned safely. Then I think of the current parents that sent a son to war, just like my parents. Still today when I see the (which ever) current war on TV, I think about the heartache and agony mom and dad had to have felt.............................. felt 4 times.

Wonderful post Ron, and you are right, often we forget about the parents, and spouses too, who although are not in the line of fire, but they are back home suffering their own misery under the constant worry if they are going to get a knock on the door or as in the old days, a Western Union. Some troops will say it's much easier being over there then over here, at least they have work to occupy their minds, here stateside, moms and dads and spouses can sit all day, just worrying, with nothing to do but worry. A short 12 months for the active duty troop, but a looooong 12 months for the family stateside.

Thanks for the great post.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Ron - A great thread to start.  My father lost a brother in WW2 and another in Korea.  I did not think about that when I joined the Air Force in '58.  I did, however, think about it when I sent my middle son to Panama.  Then one day in 1990 I sent this same son to Saudi and his little brother (same day) to Korea.  Later, sent off youngest son to Bosnia.  Yes, I worried about them every day they were out of the country and in harms way.  By the grace of God, both made it back and are now raising our grandchildren.  Maybe one day, they will experience what all parents do when their kids answer the call of duty to their country.

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
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My wife's grandmother sent 5 sons to WWII.  My father in law was the oldest and he said that when he left for the Army in 1941 his mother's hair was jet black.  When he returned in 1945 it was snow white.  Needless to say, the toll for having 5 sons in war zones.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Can't imagine having five children in war zones at the same time.

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
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