Since we have talked about it being the war that defined our generation, I am curious if you know someone who served (not another poster - someone you have met in person outside GBCN). There’s also an option if you know any Afghan allies or refugees.
Post by basilosaurus on Aug 16, 2021 0:21:07 GMT -5
Well, yeah. This many years as a mil spouse will do that to you. Some of the deaths we've known were international news. I know allies as well. I only know 2, maybe 3 people from my world outside of spouse's work, though.
My company hires a lot of Veterans so there are likely a lot, but I do know of at least one that I worked with and he was/is having a rough time, physically and mentally. I am so sorry for all our people went through.
I did my residency in a place with a lot of refugees from Afghanistan. One of my co-workers and now good friend was from that community and knew a lot of the families that came to our clinic. Through him I learned about parents of the kids who were working with the military in some capacity. This was about 15 years ago. One of my own patients I remember, her father was a translator. My friend taught me there were two major languages in Afghanistan and neither one was Arabic so translators were very much needed. My friend was a refugee from Afghanistan himself but in the 80s.
We also helped a refugee family as my dad lived in Afghanistan for a decade and is known in our region for speaking Farsi. They became wonderful family friends.
Post by rondonalddo on Aug 16, 2021 8:24:55 GMT -5
A former co-worker was a Marine Reservist (forgive me if I'm not using the correct terminology here). He went on leave from work to serve in Afghanistan and returned to work afterward.
Yes, a lot. BILs, cousins and people from high school. Nearly all of them joined the military soon after 9/11 mostly as young 20-somethings. DH did too, but he and his close military friends never served in Afghanistan.
Nobody I personally know died there, but many of their friends did. Many went on 2+ tours. The PTSD and injury aftermath of those I know has been worse. We had the groomsmen in our wedding get black suits instead of rent tuxes and our best man has worn it at so many funerals of his military friends. Some of of those were a decade after Afghanistan. Some are still having surgeries this year due to injuries.
TW PDQ It was my youngest BILs goal in life and he joined the second he was old enough. Served in Afghanistan way later than the rest of the people we know. Had severe PTSD after coming home and took drugs to cope but we didn’t really know all of that until we got a call that he was shot to death due to a misunderstanding. There were drugs in his system and he initiated an altercation but he did not have a weapon. The whole thing was so out of character for him and completely tragic.
Oddly, I know very few people in the military so I answered no. I am not 100% sure whether or not my close friend's husband did though - she only met him a few years ago but he's been in the air force for like 15 years. I know he's been stationed a few places outside the US so it's possible he was there at some point.
My husband was a military civilian for many years so through his work we knew a few people who had served there. No one we are super close to but we’ve met up with them socially several times.
We did meet one of our close friends through his job who is also a military civilian and is a engineer who was posted in Afghanistan for almost a year on base.
Post by picksthemusic on Aug 16, 2021 9:12:12 GMT -5
Several. I grew up near JB Lewis-McChord, and so lots of my high school friends went and there are a lot of military folks out here that stayed after they were stationed here. I also have worked with a few of them, and remain good friends and neighbors with them.
One of DH’s good friends, and then I know a stack of people through work. The Canadian mission in Afghanistan was pretty long and touched most military members as well.
And although I am married to someone who was in the military, that's not the only reason why. This war has been ongoing my entire adult life. My peers were the grunts and are now the commanders. And, so far, those who have spoken have said something akin to we all knew this would happen no matter when and we should have done more to help those who helped us.
Post by foundmylazybum on Aug 16, 2021 9:36:53 GMT -5
Yes. I worked as a military contractor in the US army for 7 years at one of the largest infantry posts in the country. Then I worked with a well known VSO.