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Once a Marine, Always a Marine
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Bruderhof News
Sep 2, 2004, 5:01:27 AM9/2/04
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Check out this article at Bruderhof.com:
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Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier - No Back-to-Normal for Most GIs
by Emma Neal
A mother who spent years in the armed forces, I see each soldier returning from Iraq as my damaged child. Yet what can one person do for them?
Read the rest of this article at:
http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
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Silvana
Sep 2, 2004, 4:41:42 PM9/2/04
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Coming from a mother, know that's wrong cause I believe that any human being
who has a heart would feel the same, I feel for those soldiers who have to go
through war and kill inocent people whether black, white, Iraqi, or whatever
nation it may be . We do not have the Right to take a life, imagine how those
men and women must feel! We love you and hold nothing against you, you had a
Ugly job to do and did it the best you could........We love you soldiers, wish
you could go home to your families soon.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Dennis Plocinik
Sep 5, 2004, 7:02:31 AM9/5/04
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A touching and moving article. May God continue to bless you, your ministries
and all soldiers serving their country.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
John Allison
Sep 5, 2004, 4:50:34 PM9/5/04
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I served twenty years in the USN. During that time I attended worship services
on various bases and ships where I was assigned. After marriage my family and
I attended churches in the community where we lived. Most of our friends were
military families that attended various churches. When assigned to ships, I
always found a friend or two who would visit various cultural sites in the countries
where we were ashore. We went to restaurants where the local people went and
enjoyed the opportunity of seeing new places. When retired I worked for the
Navy as a defense contractor and then civil service, all together about 40 years
working for DoD. While the temptations Ms. Neal spoke about were always present,
you did not have to give in to the them. My time in the military provided an
education, friends, and a developed faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I guess it is which road you choose.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Betsy D'Sa
Sep 6, 2004, 10:10:47 AM9/6/04
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I almost cried reading this! You know I could give you a hug! I have always
been an agnostic..... I cannot reconcile to the fact that there is so much of
pain, injustice, unhappiness in this world, and God has taken a sabbatical!
My heart goes out to all the US soldiers for putting their lives on line in
duty's name and the Iraqi people as well for the sufferings and traumas they
have endured. When is this all going to end? Is there anything in this world
to be cheerful about? One might say thank the Lord for all his blessings, Can
I? When I know they are so many around, maimed, troubled, starving, abandoned,
carrying childhood scars. Emma, I hope I can have your courage and strength!
May God bless you!
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Sudheer
Sep 7, 2004, 11:05:41 AM9/7/04
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Its really a touching experience, while going through this article. I felt personally
touched.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Eileen Byrne Borland
Sep 11, 2004, 4:34:05 PM9/11/04
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Beautiful. Touching. Poignant. We take our youngsters, dress them in a uniform,
put a gun in their hands, demand that they learn how to kill, place every temptation
that man can dream up in front of them, and then are shocked if they display
any behavior less than sainthood while representing our country to the world.
It is difficult to "be all that you can be" and still "be all that God intended
you to be". Some, like yourself, will find God's love and for the others, we
all need to open our hearts and pray.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Dan
Sep 15, 2004, 3:01:31 AM9/15/04
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Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I was also an air force brat and
in 1969 I joined the U.S. Coast Guard because it was " the thing to do". Yes,
what you said about the service is very true , no matter what branch you join.
I sure hope young people are listening to what you shared.We all need to find
a way to help our fellow wouned service people.Thanks again and keep going.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Jon
Jul 26, 2005, 7:50:41 PM7/26/05
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I can sympathise. I too entered the military, a young college drop out with
no more money to continue going to college. We were poor.
We also considered ourselves Christians, and war and the military were somehow considered honorable in our shallow faith. War was like a football game, with the home team destined to overcome the visiting team. Good versus evil. People like the Nazis, or Vietnamese, or Arabs were evil personified...like in some ridiculous Chuck Norris movie. No one thought of the political or national ideology that drove them, that fooled them...as it fools us. No one talked about their being boys, or people having families,or the innocent ones we murder... just nameless, faceless bad guys.
I can sympathies. I too entered the military, a young college drop out with no more money to continue going to college. We were poor.
We also considered ourselves Christians, and war and the military were somehow considered honorable in our shallow faith. War was like a football game, with the home team destined to overcome the visiting team. Good versus evil. People like the Nazis, or Vietnamese, or Arabs were evil personified...like in some ridiculous Chuck Norris movie. No one thought of the political or national ideology that drove them, that fooled them...as it fools us. No one talked about their being boys, or people having families, or the innocent ones we murder... just nameless, faceless bad guys.
I entered the army at 22 years old. I was selected to go to the defense language school in Monterey, CA, to study Arabic. I became the top graduate from DLI and proceeded to interrogator training in AZ. I too discovered that the military life encouraged partying, adultery, and most obviously, killing...in the name of freedom.
During this time I became serious about my faith, partly because I was trying to save my marriage, mostly because I wanted a real faith. I wanted to be more like Christ...a good husband, a good friend, a good son. I discovered something very painful. If I were truly to commit my life to Christ, I would have to give up all...even my promising military career.
I refused to fire my m-16, I refused to be a soldier with 2 years remaining in my enlistment. I faced threats of imprisonment, and alienation as a pacifist, a weakling, and some sort of religious wacko. Not even so - called Christians would come to my side. I had only the Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ to stand on.
In the end, all was fine. I have pursued a real faith that few would ever pursue. My family life and faith life have continued to grow.
I now know that there are few things a man can do in this world that glorify
We also considered ourselves Christians, and war and the military were somehow considered honorable in our shallow faith. War was like a football game, with the home team destined to overcome the visiting team. Good versus evil. People like the Nazis, or Vietnamese, or Arabs were evil personified...like in some ridiculous Chuck Norris movie. No one thought of the political or national ideology that drove them, that fooled them...as it fools us. No one talked about their being boys, or people having families,or the innocent ones we murder... just nameless, faceless bad guys.
I can sympathies. I too entered the military, a young college drop out with no more money to continue going to college. We were poor.
We also considered ourselves Christians, and war and the military were somehow considered honorable in our shallow faith. War was like a football game, with the home team destined to overcome the visiting team. Good versus evil. People like the Nazis, or Vietnamese, or Arabs were evil personified...like in some ridiculous Chuck Norris movie. No one thought of the political or national ideology that drove them, that fooled them...as it fools us. No one talked about their being boys, or people having families, or the innocent ones we murder... just nameless, faceless bad guys.
I entered the army at 22 years old. I was selected to go to the defense language school in Monterey, CA, to study Arabic. I became the top graduate from DLI and proceeded to interrogator training in AZ. I too discovered that the military life encouraged partying, adultery, and most obviously, killing...in the name of freedom.
During this time I became serious about my faith, partly because I was trying to save my marriage, mostly because I wanted a real faith. I wanted to be more like Christ...a good husband, a good friend, a good son. I discovered something very painful. If I were truly to commit my life to Christ, I would have to give up all...even my promising military career.
I refused to fire my m-16, I refused to be a soldier with 2 years remaining in my enlistment. I faced threats of imprisonment, and alienation as a pacifist, a weakling, and some sort of religious wacko. Not even so - called Christians would come to my side. I had only the Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ to stand on.
In the end, all was fine. I have pursued a real faith that few would ever pursue. My family life and faith life have continued to grow.
I now know that there are few things a man can do in this world that glorify
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Bruderhof
Aug 4, 2005, 3:30:40 AM8/4/05
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Emma Neal served as a US Air Force sergeant in Germany and England from
1977 to 1983. She now works for Sacred Heart Church in Camden, New Jersey.
She tells some of the realities of being a soldier.
1977 to 1983. She now works for Sacred Heart Church in Camden, New Jersey.
She tells some of the realities of being a soldier.
> http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
As a mother and onetime soldier reading the headlines each day, I am unable
to keep the plight of returning troops from my mind. Many of them will find
themselves scarred, both physically and mentally, for good. Many will find
themselves abandoned too-not only by society at large, but also by their
families.
Each returning soldier is my damaged son or daughter. Their suffering is my
suffering. Yet what can one person like me do for them?
Shenna T.
Aug 19, 2005, 9:35:21 AM8/19/05
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This article was very touching. I myself have a loved one in Iraq helping to
fight the war on terrorism. Although I fear for his safety every minute of
every day, I am very, very proud of him, and I trust with my whole heart that
the Lord will continue to watch over him and bring him safely home. Thank You
for this story, it really touched my heart.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Paula
Aug 22, 2005, 2:52:49 AM8/22/05
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This is a wonderful story! The most important part of your life was God! You
knew that when he blessed you with your beautiful son! You made the right choice!
I recently lost my husband nine months ago to cancer! I miss him more and more
each passing day. God substains me in every way for I abide with him and he
with me. My son was sent to Iraq on Mother's Day of this year! He contacted
tuberculosis at Fort Jackson S.C. so being in Iraq is extremely difficult with
his health conditions. I'm a recovering alcoholic, my liver shut down completely
and I did not walk for three months...still have servere nerve damage in my
legs. However by God's helping and healing hands I am now proud to say I'm 618
days sober! May God always abide with you as he has with me. God Bless You and
Keep you in his caring love.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Carla Williamson
Aug 27, 2005, 9:03:29 AM8/27/05
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This is one of the most honorable life-lesson stories I have ever read. In
the Bible, Abraham had to pick up and leave his kinfolk. And there are times,
when we as christians have to do the same. I admire this woman's courage and
strength. However, it is sad that family can be the enemy's tool against you.
But we must keep pressing on. This woman's courage and strength is an inspiration
for me. Thank you.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Ann Logan
Sep 12, 2005, 5:38:46 AM9/12/05
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This was a very good commentary. When we hear of people being blown up and
"others wounded" we don't stop to think that the "wounded" are perhaps better
off dead with their missing limbs, eyes and/or hearing gone. Long months of
rehabilitation for them, if they ever can be rehabilitated: after the shock
of a bombing.
I have a picture from a magazine (America, April 21, 2003) of a little boy laying flat down with his four stumps bandaged and bleeding through and his head bandaged. A beautiful boy with big brown eyes and trying to supress a cry of anguish. No legs. No arms. His father, pregnant mother and brother died in the blast in Baghdad when the boy was so injured. This picture says to me, "No war is ever justified." The portrait this woman paints of military life I know to be true from what soldiers have told me when they come home. They thought they knew every bad word in our language, but they learn a whole new vocabulary when they go into service.........How grossly inhumane to bomb two buses again in Israel today and then have the affrontary to claim "we did it." What is our world turning into. A living hell!
I have a picture from a magazine (America, April 21, 2003) of a little boy laying flat down with his four stumps bandaged and bleeding through and his head bandaged. A beautiful boy with big brown eyes and trying to supress a cry of anguish. No legs. No arms. His father, pregnant mother and brother died in the blast in Baghdad when the boy was so injured. This picture says to me, "No war is ever justified." The portrait this woman paints of military life I know to be true from what soldiers have told me when they come home. They thought they knew every bad word in our language, but they learn a whole new vocabulary when they go into service.........How grossly inhumane to bomb two buses again in Israel today and then have the affrontary to claim "we did it." What is our world turning into. A living hell!
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Sandra Jordan
Nov 16, 2005, 9:02:50 AM11/16/05
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Wow,a very important message with great emotional impact.I felt these words
in my body, in my heart,in my soul.....Everyone on earth needs to hear these
words and apply the action they can create into their everyday lives,with everyone
they encounter.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
Sergio
Nov 23, 2005, 9:02:37 AM11/23/05
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You are a wonderful mother and Christian. Your heart is so full of joy that
it gives me hope that even during the hardest of times, the Lord will sustain
us. I have the greatest respect for the sacrifices our soldiers make for us
and their country. I truly pray they can and do bring in a Christian heart
to a terrible job they have to do. If only we didn't have Saddam Husseins or
Hitlers in the world, we could leave the waste of wars behind us. Thank you
for your message. May God bless you and your son.
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/emma-neal.htm
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