As I hugged my son-in-law goodbye on Sunday, all I could say to him was "be safe". Tears were starting to well and I had to get out of area fast so that he wouldn't see them. He's leaving for Indiana tomorrow morning to finish his training before he goes to Afghanistan next month.
His unit, the 114th Transportation Company - The Wolf Pack, Army National Guard. Their job is resupplying mobile combat units and move loads of ammunition and all classes of supply, shelters and containers. This can be very dangerous as many of the targets are the convoys. He is strong and he is brave and I am very proud of him.
Saying goodbye to him was a very hard thing for me to do, but I can't even imagine what it is like for his wife, my daughter, Jenny to do. Knowing she will not be able to touch him for over a year, having to make decisions they would normally make together and having to take care of three young children who aren't quite sure why Daddy has to leave. This is a strong family.
Max will be "the man of the house" now that John is gone, Colby will miss his hero yet still be Daddy's "little man" and Sarah will be the "pink" in Daddy's Cami World. these are what the sweatshirts say that Jenny bought them. She is proud of her husband yet knows he will be putting his life on the line every day for the next year. What does her shirt say? "surviving my 2nd deployment" as this is the second time John has done this tour.
Maybe what I should have said to John was "come home", but then that could a number of things. the best thing I could say to him was "Be Safe". Be Safe Sgt. John Karline, come home to us the way you left and know that we all love you and will be praying for you to "Be Safe".
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