Jon left a few days ago for Iraq. This is the most painful thing I have ever had to do. We have been apart for a while but spending the 2 weeks w/ him made it so hard to say good bye. I was good and didnt cry in front of him. I just can stop thinking that I should have held him more, kissed him more, held his hand more. I really give you navy, airforce, and marine wives who have to do this SO often some major credit. This is just so painful. I havent even jumped into my life yet. Im in PA with my family taking a break b4 I have to take the drive to Florida. And I have to start classes on Monday. I dont know if i can even stand that right now. I havent talked to him yet but he said he would call as soon as he can. How long did it take for your SO to call you when he was on his way to the sandbox? I just really needed to let this out b/c I havent really been able to talk to anyone. Thanks for even reading.

Hang in there:hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :goodvibes :pray

:hugs Thoughts and prayers are with you.

MY dh called me in Germany on the way (they got delayed)
then he called again from Germany cause they got REALLY delayed.
Any he was supposed to call from Kuwait but he didn't so it was like 1 week before he got to where he was supposed to be and was able to call. Army is probably different though cause their equipment is already there. Dhs command had to take everything with them on the plane, hence the reason for the delays the weapons can only go on certain flights.
You will hear from him soon. Stay strong and busy

Hang in there :hugs :hugs :hugs

:hugs :hugs :hugs

Stay strong. We are here for you.

Thank you ladies. It means a lot. Im ok... but it is hard.

:hugs I know it's hard! When dh left last Sept. I was so good, I just gave him a hug and left early. I couldn't watch him walk away from me. R&R I was bawling at the airport. Hang in there! The time will fly fast! Keep busy!

I know that when Randy went to the sandbox I received a short email when he arrived in Kuwait. It was about 3 or 4 days after he thought he would be leaving for the sandbox. Stay strong and busy. I too cried like a baby when I had to leave him at the base back in March. Feel free to email me at tchse@aol.com or ibtfybj@yahoo.com

Lori

I'm really sorry, girl. There's really nothing anybody can really say or do to make you feel better - it just takes time. Just know that he's thinking about you as much as you're thinking of him...even if he can't call or write as much as you'd like.

I totally know what you mean about never giving enough hugs and kisses etc. It's kind of a catch 22. I wanted to spend every minute with my boyfriend before he left, but then sometimes I think that that probably made it even harder for me to let go of him later. We all have our ups and downs (remember, it's OK to be sad!) but you can definitely get through this. Feel free to vent here as much as you need! :)

Thanks ladies. He finally called this morning at 530am... i just got back from PA at 430. I could barely hear him b/c the line sucked but a least I knw he is ok. Thanks again ladies.

:hugs I will be there with you ina couple of month. My DH is going back for the second time. Hang in there... one day at a time.

Well- for 9 months my husband was in Kuwait. Only 2 days ago i got back from LA after seeing him for 2 weeks. Now he is back in Kuwait- waiting for his plane to take him to Iraq- which will be in a few hours. He will be there for the next 3 months..and hopefully he won't be extended. Cos that will be a total of 12 months by November.

Giovanni is going to be in Camp Liberty- which is right next to the airport. All of his mates are gunners- but thankfully he is going to be doing PLL the whole time in the safety of his room in the middle of camp.

It's really tough to let them go. The 2 weeks with him was the best 2 weeks of my life but in the end i was in tears, and i made him cry too. Good on you for being so strong- i couldn't help it.

As for talking to him- i have no idea. As i said- giovanni will be flying out to iraq pretty soon- and its a 1 and a half hr flight. But then he has to get settled and that will take a few hours. But i will be talking to him within the next 24 hrs. He has a cell phone- and he just needs to get a chip.

Tell your man to buy a cell phone over there- because i know they can get them and unlike Kuwait or the US- they have free airtime so its only the caller who gets charged, not the reciever aswell. You can also buy cheap as hell phone cards to call him aswell. I have got one already that is 15c a minute to an Iraqi mobile- and thats extremely good. As you are in the US- you will find one even cheaper.

I know alot now about the Army being in the middle east- cos of the 9 months that has gone on already. We have talked every single day btw- for atleast an hr. So you will be able to talk to him aswell, depending on how busy his job is. If you need any advice, or help finding a cheap phone card just email me cos i can help. Goodluck!

With what he is doing he will only be on base for one week out of the month from how it was explained to me. Where he is going is NOT cool and the missions are going to suck. B4 they left theytold them they were the best company (b/c of how well they did on training) and they will be doing some of the crazy missions. This sucks!

I know he can get a cellie (he told me he had one last time) but it doesnt sound like he will have the time to talk. Just a lot of snail mail, which I dont mind. what pisses me off is that FRG hasnt called (we eloped back in July) and most likely b/c im out of state. From what some of the other wives told me is that they dont have their sh!t together.

Lauren Beth- good luck! ::HUGS::

Keep emailing her if she doesn't get in touch with you go up the COC. Thats what I do :D
I'm sorry that he has to go. My dh did two tours over there doing totally different things. He didn't time for a cell on the one and the other the phone was pretty accessible
Good luck

I'll have a 2 hour drive home after I drop my dh off to leave for Iraq on Sunday. I know I'll probably cry all the way home, even though I've done this many times before. Just never had to drive this far, but he's leaving from Charleston AFB so I'll get him there. My 13 year old son will be with me and I'm bringing my CD's so I can play them on the drive back because no doubt my son will have his headphones on. My 17 year old will be home from work by the time I head back, so I'll probably call her from the road too.

Usually dh calls me from one of their stopping points (he has 3 this time) before they reach final destination. Then it's sometimes a day after too after he gets to the desert before he has the time to call again.

Hang in there. Sending lots of hugs your way.:hugs

This was the first time I ever had to go through a deployment and it wasn't easy! And there isn't much that anyone can say to you to make it easier. I just found that setting some goals for yourself....losing weight, finishing a project, learning something new, etc. was something that helped me. I also read alot and cleaned closets, cabinets, etc.

Hang in there! How long until he returns?

Chrissy

j was in kuwait for 9 months... so i know how it is. just stay busy, and use whatever means to communicate as you can!!