High Noon: The Call Of Military Duty

11 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

• 

  danofthecommunity on March 09 at 3:24 p.m.

  I’m surprised there are still no comments on this one. I don’t know if that means it got skipped over by most readers or if there are really that few people with active duty military ties who are also HBO readers.

  We (the parents) are in between deployments for the moment. Our son was over there in 2007, our daughter in 2008, and our son is due to go back over in a couple of months. For now he thinks he’ll be going to the Basrah area in the South where the Brits are pulling out. Last time he was up North near a little village called Makhmur. Our daughter spent her time at Ramadi. He’s an Army cook of about 2 years and she’s a Navy Corpsman for over 11 years.

• 

  DFO on March 09 at 3:37 p.m.

  Dan; I appreciate your comment calling attention to the High Noon post. I remember holding my breath for 9 months, while my niece served in Afghanistan. I’m now holding my breath for a buddy’s son, whom I’ve known since he was in diapers, who is completing his second tour as a Marine in Iraq. He’ll be returning to the states by the end of the month to see his newborn son for the first time. Within a year, he’ll have to decide whether or not to re-up. Which is a tough decision because he wants to return to North Idaho. But he doesn’t know if he can find work here.

• 

  danofthecommunity on March 09 at 3:53 p.m.

  Because of the economy, I’ve read that the recruiters are fully making their quotas these days. In fact they are now starting to cut back on some of those super-sized bonuses they were having to give out to retain as well as attract troops.

  The steady paycheck (which is really pretty good once they get a year or two in), all health care, meals, housing, and uniform allowances can look pretty attractive.

  Having them in the war zone can be pretty nerve wracking but they do get extra pay and I didn’t realize until they went over there that all their salary is exempt from taxes while they are overseas (or at least in a combat zone). With the GI benefits it can give a young person a pretty good start or be a decent career for those who choose to go the distance.

• 

  JeanieSpokane on March 09 at 3:59 p.m.

  I am always aware of my friends’ children being called to Iraq. My son was in the Army (Infantry) from ‘92 to ‘96 during Desert Storm. I was fearful that whole time, worried that he would be stationed in Iraq. He was stationed on the border between North and South Korea, which at the time was having it’s own little tension. My heart and prayers are with all our troops.

• 

  JohnA on March 09 at 4:05 p.m.

  You’re right, Dan, about the military being a good option in this economy.

  Our son-in-law had one tour in Afganistan and may deploy again this fall. He just re-upped for another four years, which will put him halfway to twenty and early retirement.

  Jerid’s a great kid from a pioneer family near Harrison. I’m sure in a few years he and Sasha will return to the homestead, over a thousand acres, to join the family’s ranching and farming operation. That means we’ll have our people closer (including the precious new grandbaby, Miles), and we can’t wait for that.

  In the meantime, the military is lucky to have someone of that character fighting for his country. Congrats to you for being able to make the same claim.

• 

  Stickman on March 09 at 8:38 p.m.

  Though I am 62 this year, I would go there in a minute, as our young people are doing at this very moment. Please honor them and their service, no matter what your politics.

« Back to Huckleberries Online

• ›Scanner traffic