Blogging for Freedom

Zachary is an expert marksman and sniper with the Air Force’s special forces. He was returned to Iraq late summer to train Iraqi police for an extended 8-month tour of duty. His departure leaves his mother, father, brother Josh, sisters Shannon and Catherine, fiancé Heather, his Aunt Tami, aunts and uncles and friends heart-broken.

He joined the Air Force the week before 9-1-1

This is his 5^th tour to Iraq. Another way to say it – he went to Iraq when he was called. He left his home and family and friends and he proudly did his duty on the battlefield. He made it home alive. That wasn’t enough.

They called him again.

They called him again.

They called him again

They called him again.

This kid is 22 years old.

This is too much to ask of him –

FIVE TOURS TO IRAQ!  Maybe he thinks they’re just going to keep sending him back there until he is killed.

Too much to demand of a young man ….. when the elders who send him and his brothers and sisters into war have never served their country, they have no right to suck the blood of our children in the name of patriotism.

I will pray for Zachary – that he may be safe in Iraq and that the time passes quickly.

I pray that he not be kidnapped, tortured and killed by insurgents, fanatic Shias, Sunni extremists, Al Quaida-in-Iraq jihaadists, freedom fighters, drug lords, corrupt police or government officials.

I ask the Dear Lord that he not be hit by an IED or a rocket-propelled grenade or a missile strike or a rollover of his badly-armored Humvee. Please keep any shrapnel or stray bullets from penetrating his body armor and his helmet.

I pray he has plentiful water to keep him hydrated in the 120 degree heat. I ask that the water be pure so he doesn’t suffer disease and that he have enough, proper food to keep his body healthy.

I pray he doesn’t see his buddy die next to him. I pray his heart doesn’t harden. I pray he never knows what it is to hate and to be hated.

Please, let him know that we are always thinking of him. Don’t make it too bad for him. Bring him home safely. God speed Zachary.