Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's day. I think of Patrick, my son who is in Iraq. His wife and daughter are in Lacey, Washington. One if not the greatest tragedy of war, is the time taken out of a person's life by being away from family. My grand-daughter, Isabella just celebrated her second birthday nine days ago. Her father was gone. He was also gone last Christmas. Tomorrow her father will be gone on father's day. I remember 35 years ago when I was gone on my first father's day. Jennie my daughter was five months old. I was in Naples, Italy on the USS John F. Kennedy CVA-67. For 270 days I was away from my family. When I returned after that deployment, Jennie being so young did not remember me. Her rejecting me when I arrived back from deployment was more hurtful than the 9 months I was gone. I made a promise then that I would never be separated from my family for so long again. I figured there were four million people looking after the military and only one looking after my family. So, after 13 years, 3 months and 24 days I left the navy. (I did recoup the time 12 years later by serving another 9 years in the reserves, thus retiring). Today all of our fine young people who serve are volunteers. They had not threat of conscription. I have mixed feelings about that. Some give all, but most give nothing. I believe one of the problems with our country is because the majority let the minority do all the sacrificing. My wife Linda and I have 3 children. All are serving in a capacity in the military. I always figured that the 22+ years I served covered my family who couldn't serve or I could protect them from having to serve. I never once tried to persuade any of them to join as I did. I talked Patrick out of joining once, until he finished law school. The second time, I did not try. I asked my children why they wanted to be in the military. Their answer was simple. 'Dad', you served and we want to. Patrick is approaching his 4th year anniversary in the Army. He has went from a Specialist to 2LT. He has been a paratrooper, member of the Stryker Brigade, became an Arabic linguist, and trained in military intelligence. He is obligated to the Army for another year and half. The army has really made a man out of him. His head is on right and he has his priorities straight.
Tomorrow will be lonesome for me even though there will be others around me. The good shepherd who had 99 sheep in the pen, did not rest until that lost one was in the fold.
I know if he can he will call me tomorrow.