Silent Soldiers: The Heroes At Home

People thank members of the military. While this wasn't always true, or even popular, it is good to hear that we are appreciated.

I was talking to my wife the other day, and it breaks my heart to hear her problems. The car's broken. Cat(s) sick. Some asshole feels the need to make facist remarks to her about being a military spouse and supporting her husband through 15 months of hell and frustration.

I made a comment on something she wrote the other day, what I call the "Waiting Game", what spouses (there are military husbands) do when their significant other is off overseas, be it the Middle East, Asia, Europe, or Africa. (Note: locations withheld) I told her I couldn't imagine what it was like, and how I didn't think I had the strength to go through something like that.

Imagine waiting at home, no husband (or wife) to come home to. Ever. All the problems, the misery, the stress; all yours. It's like being a single parent without the benefit of being single. Everyday, you see the pictures of your loved one, wondering if (s)he is all right, that you haven't talked in a few days, that maybe you got in a fight on the phone, now your wondering... wondering... wondering...

Stress feeds on stress.

Many of the soliders that are in my unit are married. Many for love, some for convienance, others for children. Yet we all face the same things, much like all our significant others face the same things. I don't read the Army Times, or watch CNN, because I fear that I will see a familiar face, or hear a familiar name. Can I imangine being in America, doing the same thing, but on a much more personal level.

My wife has this shirt, and on it is the print "Silent Soliders; the Heroes at Home". I so totally agree with that shirt. Being a military spouse has got to be one of the hardest things to do, besides not laughing at curling players. The long hours, the weeks gone, months gone, a year or so gone, the stress of work, waking up at weird hours for work, or picking up a drunk soldier. What the military member goes through, the spouse goes through, except without the paycheck.

If, by chance, you ever see a soldier and you thank him/her, remember to thank the one their married to. Because all us married people know, it isn't I, it's we.