Daughter may be heading to Iraq..???'s

[Marinemomx2]

Hi, I'm new here, I've only posted a couple of times. My daughter and son are Marines and I have another son who plans to join. I sure did something right didn't I??:D My daughter is stationed at Camp Pendleton, Miramar detachment, and she was told they most likely will be going to Iraq in 3-6 months. I worried about my son having to go, which he will, but sure didn't think my daughter would, not so soon anyway. She is in admin, I'm wondering if anyone knows where the admin people are over there. Are they at a headquarters in Baghdad, way back at the rear, in another town, or all of the above. I'm trying not to stress myself out about this, she chose this path and knew this was a reality. I'm more proud of them than I can put into words. But, hey, I'm still mom, it's engrained in us to worry a bit. Thanks for any info any of you might have.
Brenda Bratley

[MillRatUSMC]

Momz, we will be praying for her safe keeping.
Right now many units are in transit to relieve units deployed there since the end Of Iraqi Freedom.
So till she gets there, it's anybody guess of where.
Some are stationed in Kuwait.
That another possibility...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[Marinemomx2]

Thanks for your reply, I know that nobody will know for sure. I guess I was hoping someone might actually have a daughter over there in the same type of MOS. There may be somebody that will see this somewhere down the road. Kuwait would be an interesting possibility.
Brenda

[Super Dave]

My daughter leaves for the sandbox the end of this month.

[cmbell]

Just keep in mind that both your daughter and son are in one of the largest and best military forces in the world. It's always hard on the family anytime someone gets deployed. Just remember that with out people like your daughter and son nothing would ever get accomplished.

The best thing is to pray every day, send care packages when you can, and be supportive. It's just as hard to leave as it is to be left, only she has no choice. You may look into some books that are put out for wives and families. One my wife has is called "Roses and Thorns" it deals with these kinds of issues and many more. You can find it on grunt.com (Sgt. Grit is the company name). Hope this will help a bit. God bless.

[marinemom]

Marinemomx2,

I know the feeling - my son will be headed that way in June with a Victor unit of the 1MarDiv.

Our kids are well trained, with good NCOs and officers who have "muddy boots"; they go with their people, not stay behind. They are with the best that the country has to offer, and they will follow the Marine Code of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

What we do is support them, mail care packages and send lots of mail - and when they come home we throw one hellacious party.

And if you want, PM or email. We can worry together and not let the kids know.

[Marinemomx2]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. I have been a member of Sgt Grits since my son joined over a year ago, so I will definitely look for that book. I know I've heard of it before and that is was an excellent book. I do know they are trained very well and have excellent leadership. Sometimes it's hard to reconcile in my mind the image of my son or daughter as members of an elite fighting force, I still think of them as my kids. I have said in the past, I wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch my son do his job, he's in Security Forces, I would like to see the LCpl Bratley and understand him and his life now better. I was totally shocked that my daughter chose to go in. When I suggested it she about bit my head off, but about six months later when it was her idea all was right with her world.
SuperDave my prayers with be with your daughter and your family. Do you know where she will be at, as far as town? What is her MOS?
Thank you Marinemom, I will most likely take you up on your offer!!
I'm glad I found this forum. I'm a member at a couple of others also. I don't know how those do it who have no support.
Thanks again!
Brenda

[namgrunt]

I won't say don't worry, because I know you will anyway. My mother (now in her 80s) owes most of her grey hairs to my tours in Vietnam. Since your daughter is in admin, she would be assigned to a more secure area. However, I will point out that there is no completely "safe" location in Iraq. Suicide car bombers can show up anywhere and strike. You can plan for them, but you can't make them disappear.

Take comfort in the fact that she is in the same amount of danger as we are back here in the USA. The main difference is she has received excellent training, and is surrounded by a Corps full of brothers to watch her back. She actually may be safer than we are back home.

Semper Fi!
namgrunt