Liberal in the Land of Conservative

Letter: Troops should not face numerous deployments
By Mary Backes, Sartell

Published: October 02. 2007 12:30AM

My son decided to join the Minnesota National Guard about six years ago — before 9/11. He enlisted because his recruiter assured him that he would never be deployed.

My son asked for and was given an assignment to a nondeployable unit. For this choice he was stripped of an $8,000 bonus. Still, in January of 2003, with only nine days notice, my son left for a camp in Colorado and then was shipped out to spend the next full year in Iraq.

He left behind his 3-year-old son. They did not see each other for 18 months. Every day, for a year and a half, my grandson mourned, almost like his father was dead. The pain and suffering endured by children left behind is unspeakable.

Sixth District Rep. Michele Bachmann claims to care about families and family values. She has never looked into the eyes or watched one of her children suffer the day-to-day torture our children endure when a parent is shipped to Iraq.

When I called Bachmann’s office and asked why her children were not serving, I was told they were all too young. I was then informed she has a couple of children in grammar school and a couple in college.

Her aide seemed totally shocked when I stated that her children in college are just the right age to serve in Iraq.

Is it really fair to force our current military personnel to return to Iraq two, three or even four times?

What most people do not know is less than half of 1 percent of Americans wear the uniform and most of our current military personnel never have or will serve in Iraq.

So only a few families are forced to shoulder the entire load.

Make no mistake; this war is crushing them.