Coming Home: What I learned serving in Iraq.

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 12 April, 2005 | Greg Moore

[Jedidah]

SARANAC LAKE, N.Y.--There are no longer generators running, or armored vehicles rumbling, or mortars exploding, and the roar of the silence is deafening to me. What I hear at night now is the gentle breaths released from the perfect lips of my sons. The same lips that I cannot kiss enough. The lips that make my eyes fill with tears every time they touch my cheeks.

My release from Fort Drum came . . .

[NonValueAdded]

Fair warning, better get some tissues before clicking the link.

[AppyPappy]

I choked out my words of love and hung on to this boy who had cried so many nights, who said he didn't care if he got any other presents for Christmas, he only wanted his Daddy to come home. This boy who had used all his wishes on me. He kept pulling his head back from my shoulder to look at my face. Cheers rose from the other kids and teachers.

Stupid monitor is blurry. I need a new one

[Smokin' Joe]

Must be going around....

[shawnlaw]

Amen

[poobear]

My God, what a beautiful letter. To hell with the tissues, I went for the extra large Bounties! Thank you for posting.

[SwatTeam]

I'll have to save this to read later. There seems to be something wrong with bmy monitor, the screen is blurry and wavering and looks like it is underwater.

[theDentist]

Wow. Just... wow.

Folks are right, tissues needed before reading.

[HanneyBean]

OK, somebody needs to go out and buy me some mascara - the stuff I have on has smeared beyond recognition....

[schwing_wifey]

I seem to have a minor problem with my contacts floating too much.

[AngryJawa]

Thank you, Sergeant Moore!

[HamiltonJay]

Thank you Staff Sgt Moore, and to all your bretheren who gave the ultimate sacrifice and those still fighting for what is right, moral and decent in this world.

Now I have to go... somethings in my eye.

[Liberty Valance]

Thanks for posting this wonderful story Jedidah. And my humble thanks to SSgt. Moore.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I'm glad I wore a long-sleeve shirt today.

[pwatson]

Wow, just Wow!

[paws_and_whiskers]

Good one! [sniff]

[knittnmom]

Thanks for posting this. It's beautiful. Even through a blurry monitor.

[NonValueAdded]

Here is a big virtual hug for his son's teacher for her support to him while he was serving in Iraq. This lady did it right and then some.

[OldFriend]

Pretty hard to choke back the sobs.

Hug your kids today, no matter how old they are. Tell them you love them.

Pray for our heroes and never forget their sacrifices.

[Kryptonite]

Sniff sniff. Thanks for posting that article, which captures so succintly and powerfully the raw emotions experienced upon returning home . . . thanks to Sgt. Moore, his family and his son's first grade teacher.