Moving On - Children of the Children of God

Some very dear friends of mine are deploying tomorrow, I am not going with them. There are upsides and downsides to this, obviously.

I want to post this bulletin for 2 reasons.

One: To the Tomahawks: I love you dearly. If you know me well enough, you know that I am quite antisocial and often have trouble expressing my feelings. In case I haven't expressed to you, please know how much you have meant to me in this time we have spent together, please know that you mean the world to me and that I will never forget you.

I know that if it weren't for the fact that those of you who accompanied me to Iraq the first time, and for how you looked after my safety, that I may have very well not returned, and vice-versa. Please do the same this time. Look out for each other. Especially those of you that are veterans, you must look out for the first-timers, you have experience that may save their lives.

When shit gets hard, as it most certainly will, please remember the thousands of people out there supporting you, whether or not they support this operation. We are here, and you occupy our thoughts constantly, remember this.

Ignore those who do not support you. This operation is not your decision, you are acting by virtue of what you are, whatever that is, and by virtue of the promise that you made. If there are regrets to be had, they need not be yours.

Please forward this to any other Tomahawks that I don't have online connection to. This message is for all of you.

2. To the rest of us: Please, whomever you are, whatever your connection is to me, whatever you believe in; hope, pray, chant, meditate, wish well, or just think of the Tomahawks. Please do this for me. Give them all the help they can get. Also, get everyone you can to do the same. Do it as a favor to me, or whoever forwarded this to you and asked you on my behalf. I thank you in advance.

Farewell Tomahawks, never has our motto been more appropriate, "We Serve".

Respectfully,

PS: I know I used some very tired cliches, I apologize, but sometimes cliches just fit, perfectly.

Reader's comments on this article
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from Rain Child
Tuesday, July 04, 2006 - 05:34
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My thoughts are with you, Andy, as your comrades go to Iraq. I, too, had some friends in the army who were stationed in Iraq. It was an uncertain time (Three and a half years ago) and I was concerned for them. Best Wishes.
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from Nick
Monday, July 03, 2006 - 07:51
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You said "remember the thousands of people out there supporting you"... Lets make that "Millions of people."

Good luck to all of you!
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From Haunted
Monday, July 03, 2006, 07:52
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You're right Nick -

I mean, all these stories touch us but it never feels quite the same when it's your sister or your best friend's sister going - then it all hits home!

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from Haunted
Monday, July 03, 2006 - 07:11
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My baby sister goes in January :-(
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from NClaunch
Saturday, July 01, 2006 - 08:09
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Best of luck and safe return to them. My husband is there now too.
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from Grateful
Friday, June 30, 2006 - 22:22
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Well said Andy, I wish them and you nothing but the best.
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