Ben Leaves For Boot Camp On Monday

[Sideways]

Leaving MN for MCRD San Diego CA. Ben is my oldest son, full name Benjamin Elliot Summers born June 11 1981 in San Diego CA. I tried I tried I cried I cried to talk him out of this nothing worked. He wrote me yesterday saying he helped MN go blue, Callie (my daughter his sis) helped Madison go blue, and Matt (his step brother) helped CA go blue, poor Ian (my son his bro) is at Univ of Virgina and he couldn't help his state. This made me smile until I was sobbing yet AGAIN.

I had hopes that if Kerry got to the WH things might look better for Ben. Now I'm beyond broken hearted. My three year old daughter Peyton Rose can not figure why mommy just can't stop crying.

I had Benjamin when I was just a baby myself. He is two years older now than I was when I had him. But he will always be my baby.

Send good thoughts for my Benny.

[liberalmuse]

1. I hope he will be safe.

How heartbreaking! Having a child is the most rewarding and painful thing we'll ever do.

Bless your son, Ben, and bless you.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. Mary,

I have my own Benjamin, who was born in 1981. I can't imagine the fear and grief that you are facing right now. I'm so sorry. :hug:

[molly]

3. These kids just don't listen to us - I can feel your pain

:hug: may he be safe!

My son was born in September, 1981 - my youngest.

[Sideways]

5. Thanks All I'm Just So Tired

My youngest was born May 17, 2001....that explains the exhaustion, she is gifted and a handful. I could kick Ben in the ass but not until I hugged him for 3 days. I am in Sicily and I feel so far away.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. *big hug from one mommy to another*

-----------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT! Take this country back one town and state at a time!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[SheilaT]

6. I have two sons,

21 and 17. The older one is mildly autistic, Asperger's Syndrome, for which I'm now very grateful, because I think it would keep him out of the service.

But the younger one is the kind of strong-minded physically fit young male who would make a perfect soldier. But I don't want them to have him, and I'm terrified he will decide to enlist. I'm trying very hard to persuade him to leave this country, and I don't think I'm getting through to him.

Do you remember back a few years when you'd read the stories of the mothers of Russian soldiers going out to the bases where their sons were stationed and taking their sons home? Conditions for conscripts in the Russian military are truly horrible, sort of like being a prisoner at Guantanamo. The mothers would learn of the horrors their sons were enduring and march up to the commanding officers and say, "You can't have my son any more." Back then -- it was ten or more years ago this was happening -- I didn't understand how a middle-aged mother could have the nerve to do this. Now I do. There is truly no one as fearless as a woman who has given birth. And menopause is fully liberating. I could stand up to anyone and anything to protection by grown sons.

[lolamio]

7. I will be thinking of your son

My children are all still young, but I know in a short time, I may be where you are right now. :hug:

Peace.

[Don Claybrook]

8. Nice to see you, Mary T

Sent you a PM.

[Sideways]

16. Hi Buddy

Sent you one back.

[Eurobabe]

9. peace Mary, I have a daughter the very same age....

you are in my thoughts.

[UNIXcock]

10. God bless your son

... may God watch over him always

[catmandu57]

11. Bootcamp is very hard

Marine bootcamp is especially hard, I'm crossing my fingers that your son will washout Mary. I mean no disrespect for you and yours, I'm just hoping that by doing so will keep him from the jaws of the beast.

[Sideways]

15. Ben Is 6-2 185 Solid Muscle

He is a fitness buff and runner not much chance of him washing out. I know you were only being thoughtful Freddie.

[gator_in_Ontario]

12. positive thought for Ben! n/t

[Rainbowreflect]

13. You are all in my thoughts & prayers.

As are all our troops. :grouphug:

[oldlady]

14. I feel ya, my brother leaves tonight

for Iraq. I saw him last on Sunday. He may stop by today. He's going to be patroling for IEDs on Route 1, 30 miles north of Baghdad. His name is Edward James Hoffman, age 32.

I'm in Callie's city & my neighborhood sent 142 blue votes to the polls.

peace

[Sideways]

18. Keep A Watchful Eye For Callie Friend

If you see a 5-11 living Barbie doll around town you'll know it's Callie. She stops traffic even when she's wearing her bath robe. Thanks for the good thoughts. I'll be thinking about your brother too.

[Longhorn]

17. Sending good thoughts for Benny.

I wrote you before, Mary. My son just completed his first year in the Marines. About this time last year, we received our first letter from him and were jumping up and down. For us, the hardest part was the lack of communication -- one letter a week and one phone call the entire three months he was gone. Since he's been out of boot camp, we've been able to communicate much more frequently, by cell phone while he was at MCT and MOS school, and by computer now that he is in Japan.

Be sure to write to him often while he's at boot camp. I wrote to my son nearly every day and sent him newspaper clippings, cartoons, pictures, etc. that I thought would interest him. And I strongly recommend that you make plans to go to his graduation in San Diego. It's so exciting to see them again and they put on a nice graduation ceremony that didn't offend me politically as I worried it would.

Being a Marine means you support the Marines and your country, not necessarily your president and my son serves with others who feel the same way he does about this war and this president.

I suggest you listen to the Fresh Air interview with former Marine Josh Rushing at www.npr.org. He's the Marine who is featured in the movie, Control Room. We found it comforting that such an intelligent, thoughtful, and articulate young man was a Marine and hope there are others like that serving with our son.

Good luck to Ben and PM me any time! :hug:

[Sideways]

19. I wrote you back Longhorn

Not sure if you got it. Thanks for the good words. I will be writing Ben every day and Peyton and I are planning to attend graduation. He did sign a contract....he wants to do recon in the infantry of all things. He will go to Pendleton after boot.

I'm sure he is going to do well in boot camp he is strong and very bright. I'm so frightened because I know where they are going to send him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Mary, tears are rolling down my cheeks reading your post. Benny

has all of my good thoughts. I'm so sorry...just so very sorry. :cry:

[SoCalDem]

21. It's odd, isn't it.. They are always our babies, no matter how old...

Good thoughts going out to Benny..:hug:
and may he stay stateside.. :)

[IrateCitizen]

22. Mary, I'm beyond words. Make sure he has the following info.

http://www.optruth.org
http://www.ivaw.net
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org

My heart cries out for you right now, Mary. I can only imagine the place you are right now.

[Sideways]

23. Thanks Chris I'm A Wreck

I emailed Ben the links. Peace friend.

[Ducks In A Row]

24. They do drug tests right. Tell him to smoke some pot

it's time to GET OUT of the military.

if he can't bring himself to smoke, tell him to go to a gay bar and have someone take a picture of him there.

whatever reasons he thinks he has to be in the military aren't worth it.

[Sideways]

25. I've Gone Round And Round With Him

He loves to smoke pot BTW and he hasn't smoked in 8 months just to make sure he is clean. I know it is NOT the place for him but I'm just his Mom you know what I mean.