Well this sucks. Just got news that my uncle, a Captain in the US Air-Force and F-15E pilot, has been sent to Qatar.

Can't wait to see what Bush has to say tonight at 8PM.

So know I am 100% sure WAR is coming very, very soon. Seeing how he is a pilot and you know what that means. Big bombs. Very Big Bombs.

Well what sucks even more is that I can't even talk to him anymore. He has been classified and his e-mail sealed.

Anyways, I thought I would share what he had to say:

As you all see from the news, the time is growing short for Iraq's compliance. I think, if one was reading the cards, it is no surprise that the outcome is what it is. Nevertheless, it's never easy to enter in to such grim circumstance as one will pointedly acknowledge that war, in itself, is a grave waste of precious life on both sides.

Why we, as humans, are hell-bent on killing each other is beyond me. This, however, is not a second guessing of the steps President Bush is taking, contrary more to support what he is doing. The Iraqi regime is, in essence, the carnation of the Nazis, killing it's own and defying international law time and time
again. The regime must end.

We are the final instruments of diplomacy failed. It is likely that I will not be able to communicate much longer, so I would ask that you not be worried if your communications are not received on this end when the time comes. We will emerge through the other side and continue where we left off.

In these quiet last moments, I've reflected of yesteryear when we sat in nearly the same desert waiting the final trumpet call to battle. While today I bask in optimism and hope, obviously the last war was filled with darkness and pain beyond comprehension. A lot has changed from that war to this one, and believe it or not, in spite of the missions at hand, I feel calmness unlike I did back then. Certainly, we will never sell the enemy short-for in arrogance comes defeat. Perhaps it is a function of age, when I was younger I feared what I would miss had I not survived. Today I look back on a most beautiful life, a beautiful wife and a heaven-sent son, a wonderfully caring family...and I am at peace. I feel for the youth who will fight this war on the ground,
they are where I was. I have made a pact with myself to strike down as many of the enemy as I can to save one and each American. I will spare nothing to that end. Their moms and dads deserve their sons and daughters home just as the aviators of Desert Storm paved the way for our ultimate return.

I appreciate the prayers that have been sent our way. There is a high sense of energy and optimism in the squadron and, indeed, in the United States military as a whole. We truly appreciate the support of the American people...as we stand virtually alone. America is such an incredible country, an incredible people of vast diversity. When I see the multi-faceted nature of our military, from the capability structure to the
cultural diversity of the people who run it, I am so proud to be a part of his military, this nation and this history.

You are all uniquely appreciate and loved. You all hold a very special place in my heart. The support from home has been overwhelming...sometimes too much! Again, thank you all.

These eloquent words will remain a constant reminder, to me, that despite the inevitability of war, there will always be hope for the future of our country, our way of life, and for the final peace that we all will some day meet.

Thank you for the post...I hope it gets read by many.

-Sigma Zeta 314

It was read by me, thank you. I wish your uncle a safe return and not just because I'm from the USA. I hate to see any type of war. By the way, my brother is also in the service.

I wish your uncle a safe return as well. And I certainly hope that if war starts in 48 hours, that Mr. Bush finishes it this time.

As a Canadian I am deeply ashamed at my governments failure to support our friends and neighbours in America. I am not ashamed of the principle of standing up to our much larger cousins but on this issue I fear we our very, very wrong in not helping with this war.
Unfortunately the government of Canada has seceded in emasculating our military, the death of a thousand cuts.
I suppose it is meaningless words to say it but most people I know support the US and Israel- I don't know any one who picked up a placard this weekend.

@war59312 -> Its people like your father that I'm in totall awe of. Those are amazing words, and I never thought of Iraq's culture similiar to old Nazi Germany. That is a truly scary thought.

@All -> We must all love our nation, and love our neighbors in times like these. Understanding that people kill each other for religious reasons is totally beyond me. Granted that some sections of Judaism are very strict, I will do my best to help my fellow neighbors to try and create a understanding bond between two parties. Basically, I hope that this war, if that is the final judgement, will finally stop this nonsence and progate love and respect throughout. Yes, it may sound washy, but its just a hope. We should all bow are heads in respect for the men & women who are risking their lives to protect ours and our already fragile culture. Love and respect, is that a global possiblity? Or are people still greedy, or feel threaten? I have many questions. Though I don't want to bore anyone here with a novela. I want to pay my respects. I hope I have done that to par. :huh: Bless you all.

Thanks much Will for sharing this personal note with us :)

It is people like your uncle that I hold in utmost respect, his brave words and steely resolve will echo in mind these coming days. War is always a last option and not something to be treated lightly - but in some circumstances is the only option available.

-_- I bow my head in respect for those that will be fighting for the world's freedom -_-

/JD

Thanks guys, I know he greatly appreciates it.

Well damn my uncle is more important than i thought. hehe

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...aq/5425623.htm

Even though he is 33 not 32.

And damn just learned he has been in Qatar for two months. My dad said he just left but i guess not.

See here is what my aunt said just a sec ago:

Greetings,
Dan and I were interviewed by writers from the Charlotte Observer. I thought
you may be interested to read it. Just note they subtracted a year from
Dan's age, but other than that, it's an accurate article. Click on the link
and then look for the story titled "From the Ground to the Skies" in the
section, More from the Observer.
Enjoy,
Lara

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...s/iraq/5425623

Nice story :)

Hang in there bud :)

/JD

Yea he better make it home!!!

Or a ton of people are going to be pissed!!

God Bless America!!

Take Care,
Will

Update:

Well I decided to see if I could contact him and I finally got back a response. Hope u guys dont mind I told him what some of you guys had to say.

Here is what He said:

Thanks for the support. It's needed right now, more than you can imagine. Each day in combat can go either way, momentums shift so easily. So it is greatly appreciated that there is some stability with the support back home, in spite of political differences.

Thanks for the update war59312

I'm watching anything that has to do with this war. Recently my brother received the anthrax & smallpox vac so I assume his name is next on the list to go over there.

P.U.S.H. = Pray Until Something Happens

WHOOOOOOOOO!!!

Thank God!!!!!

Just glad it was not him who died.

I pray for the familys that did. God Bless America.

Hugs, kisses welcome fliers home
WILLIAM L. HOLMES
Associated Press

Pilot Dan King kisses his son, Nate, 21 months, on the tarmac of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro. JEFF SINER

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE -The first F-15E Strike Eagles to return from the war on Iraq glided over a tarmac sprinkled with cheering well-wishers and eager family members before touching down Wednesday.

They cruised single file to their assigned parking spots before simultaneously cutting their engines and raising their canopies in unison.

After a last few minutes of business, they swung their children off their feet and embraced their wives.

"Everything else is secondary," said Lt. Col. Randy Roberts, a pilot who flew home one of the dozen planes of the 336th Fighter Squadron of Seymour Johnson's 4th Fighter Wing that have been stationed in southwest Asia since January.

In the five weeks since the war started, many of the pilots have flown hundreds of missions over Iraq, bombing buildings and troops to clear the way for U.S. forces on the ground.

"We beat up the Iraqis real well," said Capt. Dan King, 33, a pilot clutching his 21-month-old son, Nate, near his wife, Lara. "It was just an honor to serve."

About half of the 98 Strike Eagles stationed at Seymour Johnson were deployed for the war effort, along with more than 1,000 airmen. About 100 have returned since Friday and about 1,000 remain deployed, said base spokeswoman Lt. Beverly Mock, who declined to give more specific figures.

The Air Force uses about 200 F-15Es, with about half stationed at Seymour Johnson. The $30 million fighter jets have two-person crews.

The jets returned on the same day the Pentagon released the identity of the second of two fliers killed in a Strike Eagle over Iraq. It was based at Seymour Johnson.

Maj. William "Salty" Watkins III, 37, of South Boston, Va., was the fighter jet's weapons system officer. Officials released the identity of the pilot, Capt. Eric Das of Amarillo, Texas, last week.

The military has not said whether the plane was shot down or was lost under other circumstances on April 7.

Roberts said members of his squadron heard about the lost plane within hours of its disappearance. He advised his men to wait until they returned home to grieve.

"The pace of combat ops allows you to take a step back for about five minutes ... and then you have to jump back into it," he said, clutching a wrapped cigar and a red rose.

Gov. Mike Easley arrived about an hour before the first planes landed at 5:40 p.m. to personally welcome them.

"These are true war heroes," Easley said. "It will come to light over some period of time what they've done. It's a lot. We have to be here to say thanks. They're heroes not only in North Carolina, not only in America, but around the world."

King and others were hesitant to describe their missions in detail. He did say their sorties lasted three to eight hours each, during which they dropped laser-guided bombs on military targets at first and then provided air support for troops.

"It was up close and personal, especially at night," he said, when pilots could see ordnance fired at them.

The planes were marked with personal touches. The nose of one had a painting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein centered inside a set of crosshairs. A drawing of the cartoon character Porky Pig was ringed with a message of retribution: "What comes around goes around."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/5702719.htm

wow... this is a fascinating thread. :) I am grateful and support our troops 100% in their effort in the middle east. I was in israel/jordan/egypt just a few years back, and I had an amazing time... it's a beautiful place, filled with historical treasures. Ya, a little off topic, but still worth saying ;)

@war59312, I hope your uncle returns safely... Please send my prayers to him and his fellow soldiers if you are able to communicate in the future... :)

Thanks,
cappaberra

Great thread and also thnx to you for posting it but the thnx goes to your uncle and all of the others who went in harms way to protect our freedom and try to give us a more secure world than we had.

God Bless America and it's Allies!

I have also to be honest in this thread and that is this did bring a tear to my eye as I think we all are against war but this is the lesser of the evils that must be done and we and our allies are doing it and now as the time has passed I have to say they did one heck of a job.

Thanks a lot guys.

GOD BLESS AMERICA
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS
GOD BLESS OUR ALLIES
GOD HELP THOSE THAT COME IN OUR WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO NEED IT :P