Families embrace, stand with soldiers bound for gulf

gomemphis.com ^ | March 1, 2003 | Laura Coleman Noeth

[Lauratealeaf]

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - A little girl in Heidi braids sat on her father's knee in a hotel lobby, hesitating before answering his question.

"How do you feel about what I do?" Stan Caldwell asked.

"Um," replied Haley Caldwell, 9. "I'm glad I have a dad who will do this, but when this happens, I wish you didn't have this job."

Somewhere in Kuwait is a big, steel trunk the Army shipped, filled with what Caldwell figured he'd need. But his Tupelo, Miss., family gave him more as they prepared to send him off to war today.

A slumber party prayer. A grandfather's Bible. The brush of a 7-month-old's palm across his face.

And the steeled, if tearful, support of a wife, three children and two parents.

[Lauratealeaf]

They're going. Get ready.

[Terridan]

God bless and keep them all...
God bless their families, especially, the children.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[nicko]

made that walk on Campbell Army Airfield many times...Tower Air, Arrow Air, Greenleaf Air...it's a real sense of relief just to get on the bird after the wait...that's when I would start to shut out the family and focus on the mission-the problem is, when (if) you return- especially after a difficult "trip"...it's hard to flip those switches back to family- often, even when you do, things you thought you left behind in theater come back...it's not easy on anyone...

[Lauratealeaf]

Thanks for posting that. I have been on the other side, sending husband and brothers off to war and now maybe again. I feel for the folks at Fort Campbell but know they are proud.

[Lauratealeaf]

One of the soldiers is taking his grandfather's Bible with him.

[Hila]

Amen, and as our armed forces are deployed, we need to intensify our prayers for their protection. May they be guided and shielded by the Almighty. The troops are taking their positions, let's all of us at home take ours on bended knees, until Americans and their allies are successful and come back to their families and all of us who will be praying every day for them.

[bellevuesbest]

God Bless them all!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/854565/posts

[Brad’s Gramma]

Tearful, prayerful bump.

[SpookBrat]

This thread is making me cry.

His teacher gave him a Bible. Remember those days?

[SpookBrat]

Thanks for the ping Gramma. On bended knee....

[Brad’s Gramma]

Aw geez....I just read the WHOLE article.

[Lauratealeaf]

His teacher gave him a Bible. Remember those days?

Obviously there are those in Maine and I suspect many other states who don't remember the days when teachers actually gave their students Bibles. But we should focus on the brave ones who are leaving our shores to defend us and bring liberty to others. (by the way, I love your profile page!)

[Lauratealeaf]

Thanks for linking this to the Dose. It is a really good article.

[azGOPgal]

God bless our troops and their families. They are going to need our prayers now more than ever.

[SpookBrat]

"But we should focus on the brave ones who are leaving our shores to defend us and bring liberty to others."

I like that. Amen!

PS: Thank you. :)

[Miss Marple]

I thought you would appreciate this story.

[Lauratealeaf]

Here is a link to the cadet prayer at West Point, which has sustained and uplifted many throughout the years. One line is especially meaningful.

*The Cadet Prayer*

[SpookBrat]

That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me. I liked this sentence. "Guard us against flippancy and irreverance in the sacred things of life."