Students cope while family, friends serve duty overseas

     She embraces her older brother tightly.  Between sobs, she whispers, “I love you; I am praying for you.”
     “I love you too,” he replies.
     Carolyn Forester watches him turn and begin walking off.  She, her two other brothers and her parents finish their goodbyes, and they too turn to leave.  Her older brother, Brian Forester is headed back to Fort Bragg, N.C.  Several days later, he will be in Afghanistan.
     Today, a picture of him dressed in desert fatigues rests atop a mantle in her bedroom.  As she leaves for class every morning, her eyes gaze upon that frame.  Her loving brother, now in a land far, far away, looks back at her.
     Carolyn, a sophomore at GCSU, has joined the ranks of many who have endured saying goodbye to a loved one headed to a combat zone.  First Lieutenant Forester is serving his second tour in Afghanistan, so this was not the first time his sister has struggled to say goodbye.
     “When I watch the news, my heart breaks when they show the number of soldiers that died that day,” Carolyn said.  “I realize that my brother is over there and he could be one of those numbers.”
     There are few other GCSU students who can relate to this anxiety.  Carolyn wants to live everyday in a place of peace and hope, despite the emotional toll this must take. She has learned what it means to soldier on.
     “We [her family] cope through prayer and trusting in God,” Carolyn said.
     GCSU sophomores Amy and Jenifer Lowe can relate.  The twin sisters, born 12 minutes apart, have a close bond.  That is comforting to have when your older brother could be re-deployed to Iraq any day now. 
     Specialist Lowe was able to spend the holidays with his sisters upon returning from several months of service in Iraq.  He treated his sisters like princesses, taking them out to dinner, shopping and doing anything else to make the most of every minute he had.  He is their caring brother, and as an American soldier, a daily concern.  
     “This is a stressful time,” Amy said.  “We don’t know if Christmas was the last time we’re going to see him for a year and a half.”
     “We’re scared; you don’t know what’s going to happen when he goes,” Jenifer said.
     At times, the Lowe sisters have been frustrated by some of their peer’s attitudes toward the Middle East conflict.  Their peers are quick to point out the faults of President Bush’s decision to send Americans to such a volatile land, and slow to realize that in the midst of all the chaos, Specialist Lowe, and many others, try to do the right thing in a world gone wrong.
“They’re building schools over there,” Amy said.  “Don’t talk about it [Iraq] if you don’t know what’s going on.”
     Like Forester, watching the evening news is a recurring agony for the Lowe sisters.  When the broadcast shifts to the war, their stomachs turn when American casualties are mentioned.  It is a fear that will not end until their brothers return safely home.
     A GCSU junior, Brent Adams has heard a lot about what American soldiers and Marines have experienced in the Middle East.  Besides being a history major, Adams is also a United States Marine.  Adams is not on active duty, which allows him to continue the college education he needs to one day serve as an officer in the Marine Corps.
     Adams is quick to point out that Americans serving in military do not feel like victims of their circumstances.  They volunteered to put their lives on the line.  His understanding of war comes directly from the Marines with whom he has spoken upon their return from service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
     “Our military personnel are trained to handle the job…but there’s a difficult level of emotional response to what they see,” Adams said. “There’s a level of fear, knowing that someone whom you are friends with is leaving [to a combat zone].”
Stories returning Marines have told him of befriending and looking after Iraqi families, clearing out potentially booby-trapped buildings, and other acts of bravery further inspire Adams to one day be serving in Iraq himself.
     “It’s [deploying to Iraq] a very sobering thought, but it’s exciting,” Adams said.
     Many other service personnel also serve willingly.
     “My brother wants to go back; it’s hard for us, but he is excited,” Jenifer said.
     Despite the difficulty for family, the men and women of the military serve when their time comes. Carolyn’s brother didn’t resist when his turn came.
     “He was ready to go,” Carolyn said.
     The men and women serving overseas are soldiers eager to do their duty, but more importantly, they are family and friends.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 9 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry