Posted on 11/29/2006 8:36:31 AM PST by XR7
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — When they called her name, she could not move. Sgt. Leana Nishimura intended to walk up proudly, shake the dignitaries' hands and accept their honors for her service in Iraq — a special coin, a lapel pin, a glass-encased U.S. flag.
But her son clung to her leg. He cried and held tight...T.J. was 9, her oldest child, and although eight months had passed since she had returned from the war zone, he was still upset by anything that reminded him of her deployment...
The faraway move to live with his grandmother. The months that went by without his mother's kisses or hugs, without her scrutiny of homework, her teasing humor, her familiar bedtime songs.
Nishimura was a single mother — with no spouse to take over, to preserve her children's routines, to keep up the family apartment.
Of her three children, T.J. seemed to worry most... "He went from having one parent to having no parents, basically," Nishimura said, reflecting. "People have said, 'Thank you so much for your sacrifice.' But it's the children who have had more of a sacrifice."
When war started in Iraq, a generation of U.S. women became involved as never before — in a wider-than-ever array of jobs, for long deployments, in a conflict with daily bloodshed. More than 155,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Among their ranks are more than 16,000 single mothers, according to the Pentagon, a number that military experts say is unprecedented.
How these women have coped and how their children are managing have gone little noticed as the war stretches across a fourth year...
"I tell [the children] that if God needs Mommy to go ... then Mommy's going to have to go again and they're going to have to let me."
(Excerpt) Read more at archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Exactly, but the few who are doing the bitching probably also believe joining the military is akin to jumping on the gravy train -- not a real job at all. Hypocrites.
Everyone makes a bad decision or two in their lifetime. It's what we make do of those decisions that determine the type of person we are.
Bingo.
Allegra, thank you for your service. I respect it more than I can say.
I'm also glad you never listened to the finger-waggers: we need you on that wall.
She was married when she produced the children. Yet ANOTHER poster who finds it easier to be self-righteous by not reading the article. :)
Well, "deuce", your Mom became a WIDOW when your father died, she DID NOT become a "single Mother".
We're not talking about widows and divorcee's here, and there's a BIG difference in the application today of that term "single mother".
Don't worry, I'm sure ALL of the men who are being critical have a service record themselves. They would not criticize someone for doing what they themselves were not willing to stand up and do.
....Right?
Hey, Warrior Princess! How are you doing? Maybe the media misheard and it's a silver war.
Again, she is NOT a "single mother", she's a divorcee or divorced mother of three.
What's the problem with that term? Do we have to include un-wed mother's with the divorcee's and widows by coining the term "single mother", to ausuage their shame and guilt (the knocked-up un-wed mothers)?
You're right. I did not read the whole article. Mea culpa. And I owe Ms. Nishimura an apology. Thanks.
See # 169.
You and the writer called he a single mom, not me, I can read. If this is not your position, than why that post on this thread?
The "service record" argument is weak...
But this is a fun thread to read...
Bingo.
Why did she join the military?
Wars wouldn't last very long, I can tell you that. We're cranky and irritable on the best of days, we have a long history of dirty fighting tactics learned over the years, and we have a lot of other, better things to do.
Well, how about THIS definition:
"unwed mother - one who helps perpetuate the genes of an unwed father, without the latter's talent for becoming invisible at will"
Like I said, there are tens of thousands of men over there who are fathers themselves. I suppose we should be glad that they don't have there priorities in proper order? Otherwise who would be there protecting us?
First of all, there's no "place" for me in the military unless I volunteered. This is not a conscript army. Second, it's not "regardless of gender". If you see no difference between men and women--particularly in terms of the military, then you're delusional.
Delusional? No. I'm experienced. I served in the Navy almost all my adult life, active duty and reserve. I had the occasion to serve with women, command women, and be commanded by women. And I'd stack just about every one of them up against someone like you who hides behind his wife and kids and criticizes those who serve in his stead. It takes a special person to serve in the military, a sense of dedication and duty that I've never found among those who couldn't be bothered to serve. It's not an easy life for anyone, deployments are hard, you give up any semblance of a normal family life in most of your postings. But hundreds of thousands of men and women do it every day.
Sure I see the difference between men and women. But more importantly I see the difference between those who serve and you.
I love the US military. I think the feminization of the military is a tragedy on many levels--both for the institution itself and for the women it has duped into thinking they can be exactly the same as men. Is that opinion somehow unpatriotic and something that may only be voiced by someone who has been in the service?
It's easy to say you love something you have no experience in and no concept of, and to criticize those you don't know merely because they don't fit into your own personal biases and prejudices. That doesn't give me any real reason to respect your opinions of them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.