From The Pgh Post Gazette
By Stephen E. Wright

One of the hardest things a parent can do is to send a child off to war. The second hardest thing is sending him back.

My son is an Army cavalry scout who is part of President Bush’s surge in Iraq. After nine months on the front lines, he got 18 days of home leave this month. We squeezed Thanksgiving, Christmas and his wedding into those few, precious days. Last week, after waiting for a delayed plane, his mother, new wife and I exchanged tearful hugs with him as he headed back for six more months of war.

Although my wife and I do not support this war, we have been outspoken in support of our son and the other soldiers who risk their lives daily. Some parents of soldiers think opposition to the war demeans the efforts of the 150,000 soldiers there and fortifies “the enemy.” But others believe the best way to support these brave young people is to work to get them out of there. It is a war we never should have started.

Before our son was sent to Iraq, the war was somewhat abstract for my wife and me. For many Americans it still is. Through letters, phone calls and e-mail from our son, along with conversations at home earlier this month, it has become very real.

During his time home, our son made the war more personal for others, too. He met for an hour with reporters and editors at the San Jose Mercury News, where I work. Everyone appreciated his candid answers to their pointed questions. He was natural, mature and authoritative. It was pretty emotional for Mom and Dad. We were very proud of him.

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