My boyfriends cousin just returned from Iraq! Intact!

That is excellent! Although I find it interesting that they are letting Nat. Guardsmen go into combat at 51 years old.

But yay, rejoice!

He turned 51 in Iraq. His brother, also a fireman, age 47, is still there. The National Guard IS much of the military prescence in Iraq. Tommy is not married. He doesn't have any kids. There are thousands of National Guard people who have been deployed who DO have children. Their lives are ruined - the income that these men and women brought to the family table is essentially on hold until they return. If they return. National Guard service being a major part of the US military in Iraq should be an issue in the debates. The threat of a draft is precisely because the "weekend warriors" are now being deployed. And Bush couldn't even manage to complete his National Guard duty! But he has the audacity to deploy men and women who should, really, be enjoying their middle age - not getting called up to go fight a war. Oh, sorry, an occupation.
I am delighted and rejoicing that Tommy is back. But it's really disturbing that his deployment - and the deployment of many others, with families that rely upon their income - is not more of an issue.

I suspect it'll be a big issue if the votes go the way I think they will (in that I have this hunch the military in general will vote Kerry).

I think the military, in general, is disgusted by Bush - especially since he tried to lay the blame for his failed war on their doorstep. I just wish more people knew that this is not a volunteer army - this is your local, neighborhood fireman who is being deployed. I mean, it IS a volunteer army, because the Guard is a volunteer force. But these volunteers never expected to actually have to go into combat. And, as much as I love Tommy, do i think he was in any way trained to deal with the situation in Iraq? No. He has never travelled farther than the borders of Massachusetts. He likes to fix musical instruments and he loves his dog. I hope the military vote IS the changing force in this election. There are too many people being scarred by the deployment of middle aged fathers and mothers, who never thought that their volunteer efforts would place them in Iraq.
Tommy is back. But he thinks he might be deployed again - in the six month rotation.

I don't know any military families with forces on the groudn but most seem to be leaning pro Bush....

That's good news. And of course, hope his brother will be back soon, and by extension, everyone.