Well it's been sometime since I updated you all. Well it's been a rough 60 days for some family and friends. We lost a young man here that was about 26 not married, no kids. The reason I bring that up is I feel for his family that he was never able to experience some of the greatest things that makes life so wonderful. I didn't know him personally but I know a lot of people that did and I know they took it very hard. His memorial was attended by many. The next young man I did know. We had talked on a several occasions and I even got him a flag that I had bought an extra one of. He told me that he was getting ready to leave to go back; his wife was due any day to have a baby. I remember giving his flag to his buddy and him telling me how excited that he was going to be getting it. Shortly after returning he lost his life, leaving a new mother and child behind. His section and mine worked closely together and a lot of his Marines took it hard. Left with so many questions, of why? All we can do is pray for the families left behind and hope they get through this challenging time. I remember growing up and always hearing about the problem Vietnam Vets had dealing after returning from the war. I would never compare the two in the sense that Vietnam vets endured torture from their fellow Americans on return. However I don't think our country is prepared to deal with all the problems that some of the Vets come back and will develop years later. Some of these young men are 18-28 and they are going to get out after their enlistment and it may be years before we truly see how many of them will come forward for help. I'd like to say that the Marine Corps is going to be able to assist a lot of these young men during their transition. However overall I know how Marines think and it is really hard for them to ask for help as they sometimes think it is a form of weakness. Which it is not. The true cost of this war will never end for those that lived outside the wire on a daily basis and were faced with life and death situation. I just pray that we as a country can be there for them.
