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September 19, 2004
Of phone calls and e-mails
Parents of deployed Marines are never far from a phone. I sleep with my cell phone and have been known to stop in at a phone store to beg for a quick recharge when I'm away from home and my phone battery runs low. My students know that I do not turn my phone off during class and if my son calls, we take a break until he's done talking.
Last year, I received frequent phone calls; this year e-mail seems to be more convenient. The lines are shorter to the internet center than to the phone center. Until this morning. The phone rang and it was my son. What an incredible uplifting feeling to hear his voice again. Reading words on my computer screen as I read and reread his e-mails pale in comparison to a real-time connection and hearing him say, "I'm fine, Mom."
It's rough over there. Frequent mortar attacks, constant vigilance for IEDs, and his battalion has lost some good men. Since all communication out is shut down when there is a fatality, it's been a few days since the guys were able to call or e-mail.
The people in his region of the Anbar province are very different than the citizens of the holy cities of Najaf and al Hillah where he spent seven months last year. But he also said that 10% of the people were causing the problems and that there were many families who just want peace. They are going after that 10%.
And there is a small but significant difference between reading "I love you, Mom" and hearing it over a phone line, even half a world away. Thank God for Alexander Graham Bell. He's one of my historical heroes.
Posted by Deb at September 19, 2004 11:40 AM
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Deb Conrad writes: Parents of deployed Marines are never far from a phone. I sleep with my cell phone and have been known to stop in at a phone store to beg for a quick recharge when I'm away from... [Read More]
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Deb Conrad writes: Parents of deployed Marines are never far from a phone. I sleep with my cell phone and have been known to stop in at a phone store to beg for a quick recharge when I'm away from... [Read More]
Tracked on September 20, 2004 07:57 AM
Comments
Thank you for letting me know that I'm not the only one with a cell phone that has become a new body part.I know its differant for a mother than it is for a girlfriend but the sound of his voice is a relief like no other. I accidently stumbled across your website a couple of days ago and it has helped me deal with his absence a little better to read some of the stories and see some of the pictures of other units with smiles on their faces gives me a slight peace of heart about him being gone, it makes him feel a little closer to home to me to see the pictures. Thank You Ladies from the Bottom of my Heart.
Posted by: Ticia Lopez,California at September 19, 2004 11:06 PM
you just made me all weepy.
f
Posted by: Fred Schoeneman at September 20, 2004 07:47 AM
I have a brother serving in the marines bravo co 2/35 in afganistan,I live in scotland and have'nt seen him in some time as he is based in hawai,so it was a real shock for me to hear he was out there but I have heard from him and he seems to be doing o.k.I miss him dreadfully and can't wait to see him back in scotland hopefully next summer.ALL THESE GUYS ARE REAL HEROES!!
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