by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

in Afghanistan. There were 7 on board; 3 survived, but probably are badly injured. They were probably carrying wounded at the time, too. Because the HH60 crews are tightly knit, Mike will probably know some of the dead, once names are released.

I cried for them. I cried for me, too, because the old feelings came rushing back -- when you have someone connected to the military, you are scared whenever news comes of one going down; immediately relieved and happy when you find out your son was not on board; and then you feel guilt at being happy when others are grieving.
We in the U.S. are many times forgetful that we are in a WAR; cuties, please join me in praying for the survivors, the families of the dead, and for all military personnel & their families. The families "serve", too, by being separated from their loved ones.
Blessings,
Diane

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by moyed 13 Jun 2010

Diane, sadly, war is a part of all our lives. Here in Australia we had 2 soldiers killed last week and their bomb squad trained dog as well. We have a couple of friends who have been deployed and we hold our breath each time a report of a death is mentioned on the news.
Helen

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by noah 12 Jun 2010

God bless you for reminding us to pray we do get so busy!!!Carolyn

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by workbecky 12 Jun 2010

Diane, I am a new Marine Mom. Our son is in Okinawa now but has been told his group will be in Afghanistan by the end of the year. He is in transportation so every time I hear about a truck running over an explosive I cringe. I didn't realize there were so many military connections on cute. Meganne is digitizing a saying I am going to put on my son in law birthday shirt (he is in the Air Force). John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." We are so proud of our son and sooooo scared to. I cry with relief then guilt when I hear of a death in Iraq or Afghanistan. Thank you everyone for praying for all militaries because no matter where you are our military men and women are everyday heroes. Becky

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dgarner by dgarner 12 Jun 2010

I will be praying for your son and your son-in-law to be safe wherever they may be.
Don't know if you know this -- The Air Force CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue)motto is: "That Others May Live".
Let me know when Meganne has that scripture ready, please. I'd like to use it as well.
Blessings,
Diane

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by nanniesara 12 Jun 2010

I understand where your coming from, my brother served 2 tours in Viet Nam and we were always on pins and needles when some news would flash about injuries or casualties. Although he did not get injured while there he has permanent damage from the Agent Orange. It is so sad he cannot talk very much because of strokes and continues to have little mini strokes. It is so sad to see my oldest brother suffer like this. But he still can walk and do for himself most of the time. He has a very loving and caring wife and daughter to take care of him.

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dgarner by dgarner 12 Jun 2010

In my opinion, damage from Agent Orange counts as combat injury.
I pray that your brother can have less suffering, and that he finds joy in life. Know that I pray for him, his wife, his daughter, and you. Obviously, you all love him very, very much.
Thank him for his service, please. He is a hero, too.
Blessings,
Diane

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by 1ladyb 11 Jun 2010

I know exactly how you feel Diane. My youngest is in the Air Force and is an engineer on the Hueys in D.C. He just returned in May from a year in Iraq and was teaching gunners there. Before that he was on the C-130 supply transport into Iraq. One of his room mates knew some of the men that were killed on this one that just crashed and he is training to be sent to Afghanistan. Last month he had to escort in another friend who was killed in a Heli crash I am just as worried for him as my own son. My son was on his way to an air show in Indianapolis today in an older Huey from D.C. At the end of this month my son is being stationed in Albuquerque to instruct new Flight Engineers and will be getting married there. He has 4 years to get to his 20 so I hope he can stay out of Afghanistan till he retires. I pray daily for all the troops and their loved ones back at home and ask God to bring them home safely. I know how my mom felt when my brothers were in Viet Nam.At least today we can talk with our guys and gals. Back then we had no clue where they were most of the time. God bless them all.

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

I pray that your son stays stateside til retirement; please tell him that I thank him for his service. Also, congratulations on his upcoming wedding!
Please let his roommate know that I thank him for his service, also, and that I will be praying for his safety.
Blessings,
Diane

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by lflanders 11 Jun 2010

Diane, It was a very sad day! Anytime you hear of a tragedy and there are fallen soldiers, it is going to be sad if there is one grain of decency in your heart and soul. Any woman's child is one of our children also when they are laying their lives on the line to protect us and our families. Everyone's prayers should be given freely for any and all that fight to protect our freedom and a better way of life. We spend most of their lives intrusting them to the Lord and praying that they will know right from wrong and live to get through whichever war we are fighting with the least pain. In my time it was Vietnam and sooooo many kids(not much older) lost their life and some even came home with scars that have never healed. My X brother-in-law had nightmares for many years after he got home. He finally wrote a book that really helped him deal with it. He is my age, 63, now he has always relived the horrors of what went on way back then. This is something every soldier that has ever been in combat has to deal with when they return home to their loved ones. Yes, indeed, every soldier should stand tall and proud for all the love and care that he/she has given from his very soul to keep our country FREE and safe!

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you, dear one. I was just out of high school at the end of the Vietnam "conflict" (disgusting word -- it was a WAR, even if it wasn't an officially declared one); I was lucky, none of my friends died in it, but I know some whose scars will never heal, too.
Blessings,
Diane

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by gramsbear 11 Jun 2010

You are so right! We bubble along in our lives, not thinking of the ones who keep our lives bubbling. Prayers and hugs, Judy

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you, Judy.

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by pennifold 11 Jun 2010

Hi Diane,

I am sure that all of us in the "free" world are praying for all of our armed forces.

Unfortunately Australia had two beautiful young men killed in Afghanistan only last week and their bodies were flown home.

One of the young men was only about 26, married with a 2 year old son and the other young man was only 21.

We, like you, do sometimes forget that we are in a WAR too.

I am sure all of us want a peaceful resolution to this all. Thanks for the post.

Love and blessings Chris

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thanks, Chris -- I will add the families of those two young men to my prayer list. I am so sorry for their families, especially for the little one who will never know his Daddy.
Blessings,
Diane

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by jrob Moderator 11 Jun 2010

It was sad news.....I am praying for them and their families and those who are closely connected. I'm from a Marine family and feel your mixed emotions. Semper fi.

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you and thank your Marines for me.
Semper fi,
Blessings,
Diane

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by dkjack 11 Jun 2010

My prayers are always with our Military and their families. My son went over to Iraq 3 times. He will not have to go back due to his injuries on his last tour. But I know if for some reason they would ask him to go, he would.

Tell your son, thank you for all he did for our country.

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank your son for me; I pray for his recovery. Yes, he would go; our son volunteered to go with a HH60 "hard crew" that needed a co-pilot into Afghanistan right after 9/11. It was the first time he had not been with us for Christmas.
Blessings,
Diane

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by crousse 11 Jun 2010

God Bless and be with you ! My heart is also crying for you. My son is in the A.F., 4 tours in Iraq, and having been raised military, I know exactly how you are feeling. Please know that we are all here for you in any support you need. Bless ALL the men and women serving in our armed forces! And God Bless their families also. They are truly all Heroes!!

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Our Mike rotated in and out of Afghanistan and Iraq so many times with the HH60 crews that I honestly lost track of how many tours he did -- they rotated in and out at 3 to 4 month intervals. I hope your son is stateside now; thank him for me. Yes, they are all Heroes, and their families are, too. Mike was going to go career, but all the rotations kept him from his family too much (last one, he had to leave his wife soon after she had miscarried their first child) so 10 years in he resigned.
Blessings,
Diane

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by redhotrn65 11 Jun 2010

May God Bless ALL men and women serving in the military and their families! If it wasn't for them, we would not have our freedom and be living our lives as we are now. They are my BIGGEST HEROS!

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Amen! We take our way of life for granted way too much of the time.
Are you a nurse? I'm a RN.
Blessings,
Diane

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by lucypiwow 11 Jun 2010

I SULUTE YOU MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN ARMEY.YOU WIFE,MOTHERSAND CHILDERN ARE HEAROES ,SITTING AND WAITING FOR A CALL TO SEE IF ITS YOUR LOVED ONE.YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR SELVES AND YOUR HUSBANDS,DAUGHTERS SONES AND MOTHERS,GOING TO FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTREY.I AM A CANADIAN AND I DO SUPPORT OUR TROUPS,BUT ALSO SUPPORT AMERICAN TROUPS IN AMY WAY I CAN.I WISH WE DIDENT HAVE WORE AD COULD ALL GET ALONG,,I PRAY FOR WORLD PEACR AND TO PROTECT OUR FAMILEY HERE THERE AND OVER THERE,,GOD BLESS US ALL....

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Yes, let us all pray for peace, and for all military personnel and families wherever they are.
Blessings,
Diane

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by nanna314 11 Jun 2010

Diane My prayers go out to all the families involved in this tradgedy.My gratitude goes to ALL of our troops and there families. Both of my sons are Marines and my youngest is deployed at this time so yes I totally agree with you it is tuff being the parents of a deployed HERO.God Bless them ALL.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

I pray for your son's safety; thank both of your heroes for me. It is very hard on both the soldier and the family. Stay strong, nanna314.
Semper fi,
Blessings,
Diane

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by anne55 11 Jun 2010

God bless your son and all of our brave servicemen and women. They deserve the best every American has to offer them during and after their service for our country.

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

You are so right; they do deserve our very best, both as servicemen and women AND as veterans.
Blessings,
Diane

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by 02kar Moderator 11 Jun 2010

As a Us Air Force wife, I want to thank all of you for the support through prayer and in other ways for my military family. It can be a stressful career for both the member and the dependent. We are so thankful for each and every person who supports our military and that includes our extended family members.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

You are very welcome, dear. Thank your husband for me.
I pray for your husband and for you. It is very hard on the dependent; you are right.
Blessings,
Diane

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by persiancatlover 11 Jun 2010

i know how it feels ,my husband works also in the army here in belgium and he has also been in afghanistan,i know the feelings that you feel when you get news about afghanistan ,even when your love ones are not their you are always thinking about the other people that are their,their are always friends or other people that you know that are in that dangerous area,my prayers are with all the ones their in afghanistan that are working in the army,god bless them all,gr connie

2 comments
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you, Connie. Please tell your husband that I send a big Thank You from the U.S. to him for his service.
Blessings,
Diane

persiancatlover by persiancatlover 12 Jun 2010

thank you Diane i will tell him,take care,gr connie

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by sbott54 11 Jun 2010

I have three family members in the Army and I understand what you're saying. When they were deployed the whole family cried when someone was injured or killed. My sister was a nervous wreak while her son was in Iraq for two tours. My heart and prayers go out to all our service men and women and their families. May we have peace between all peoples soon.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Yes, let us all continue to pray for peace and for the safety and well-being of our military and their families. No matter who the soldier is, we love them and hurt for them and their families when something happens.
Blessings,
Diane

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by marymadeit 11 Jun 2010

You bring tears to my eyes as I know just how you feel. Our son too flies choppers,for the Army. He is state side at the moment but...Anytime we heard of an Apachie going down it was perk up ears and leason carefully. Then GLEE at it not being him or his unit, until you relize it was someones son, daughter, father, brother, mother, sister, then the grief of losing another AMERICN. Pray for us. Mary

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Oh, Mary, you know I will pray for you and your son. When Mike was over there, anytime a chopper went down, we immediately listened for what kind it was. Worry, relief, joy, guilt, grief.
Thank your son for me. Hope he gets to stay stateside for a long while.
Blessings,
Diane

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by lbrow 11 Jun 2010

Hello dgarner I know how you feel my son n law did 3 hitches as a helicopter pilot, most of it in Central America back when Noriega was kicking up his heels. Daughter would call me saying"momma he's gone again & they wouldn't tell me where" sometimes a mo. at a time with only his CO to contact if she had a problem & her with 2 babies. I was soooo glad when they came home. We are not too far apart by the way. I'm near Gadsden,Al. & go to Rome,A. now & then. Macon, Ga. is where I grew up & I too am an R.N. but retired at age 70 though I still keep an active license.. *

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

We have a lot in common! Let me know when you'll be in Rome, sometime -- we can have a cup of coffee and solve all the health care problems! LOL
Thank your son-in-law for his service, and your daughter for keeping on keeping on while he was away.
Blessings,
Diane

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by joanne8125 11 Jun 2010

God Bless our military and a million thanks go out to each and every one of them. We would not have anything today if it was not for their dedication and willingness to serve. Pray for them everyday and that they will soon be home.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

I agree wholeheartedly with you.
Blessings,
Diane

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by clawton 11 Jun 2010

We are so thankful that these men and women serve from all over the world to help keep us safe. There have been a lot of losses in this one.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Yes, to both statements. We are so very blessed to have so many defending us and our freedoms.
Blessings,
Diane

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by nhsmith55 11 Jun 2010

Diane,
I understand what you are saying. My son went to Afghanistan in 2003. The worry was always there. And the guilt of being happy when the bad news wasn't mine.
Now he is a firefighter! Still I worry. But not as much. :)
Because the war is not being fought on our soil, we do forget. Thank you for reminding us to pray for our military.
Nancy

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thanks, Nancy. I know you are proud of your son -- my DH was a firefighter in Orange County, CA, for some years (before I met him, thankfully!).
Our son, Mike, used to get asked if he had met this soldier or that one (by their family members when he was home on leave). They didn't understand that Mike was in the RESCUE part of the military. So, Mike would tell them that he had not met them, but, that if he did, it would mean they were having a really bad day, but that it had just gotten a lot better! (That boy shares his Mom's off-beat sense of humor, I'm afraid.)
Blessings,
Diane

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by jacquipaul 11 Jun 2010

Dear Diane,
Our nephew is in the Marines, and his location is not known. I expect he is in danger, but I do not know. I will certainly keep your concerns in my prayers also.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you -- I will keep your nephew in my prayers, too. It is even harder when you cannot know their location.
Semper fi,
Blessings,
Diane

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by gerryvb 11 Jun 2010

Diane, it must be hard to hear about this lost: for your son, all the families and for you. let's hope our prayers will give them strength.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

It is hard; there is a possibility that my hubby and I also may have met some of those involved.
Prayers get families through all this.
Thank you,
Diane

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by janettat 11 Jun 2010

My son is training to be a pilot for the USAF. I am new to the military but I have always prayed for the men , women and families involved. I am happy for you that your son is safe. I am sure you can teach me much about being a supportive mother. I am probably going to be scared for the next 20 years. Thank you for bringing these people to our attention.

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dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Janet, private message me; we can talk one military Mom to another (and you'll always be one, even if your son leaves the service!).
What aircraft is your son training for? and, where is he stationed at present?
Blessings for you and for him,
Diane

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by sewdoctor 11 Jun 2010

Prayers are always said for our military. A young man whom my Daughter knew was killed in Afghanistan last week..many in mourning for him.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

I am so sorry to hear of his death -- we mourn with you.
Blessings,
Diane

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by shirlener88 11 Jun 2010

Oh my dear Diane, I feel your relieve and your pain. Please know we will pray for all concerned.

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you, Shirlene -- you are favorite Cutie of mine, and an inspiration, too.
Blessings,
Diane

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by catsnhorses 11 Jun 2010

Diane,
I'm so sorry to hear of the crash and our brave men/women who perished or were hurt! God bless our military AND their families!
Marion in KY

1 comment
dgarner by dgarner 11 Jun 2010

Thank you, Marion.

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