I'm here to ask all the questions that never get answered, not necessarily because people don't want to answer them, but primarily because i truly believe there is no specific answer...at least, not that many people are will to search deep enough within themselves to find the answer to...so, if you're a military man or woman who's stumbled upon this, I ask you to take yet another challenge--and please try to answer these questions...for me, for yourself.

as the serious girlfriend of a united states marine, i feel proud when i tell people he's serving our country and truly believe he's doing something that very few people are brave enough to do. So, for that I am proud and brave. And I'd like to thank all of you serving our country. Thank you for putting your lives on the line to protect those of us who are not brave enough to take on the challenges you have. But, I have to ask you...why do you do it? This is a constant internal battle for me--I ask myself how someone can voluntarily leave the ones they love at home. Why, if it's so hard for him to be away from me...does he do it? As brave as you all are--how do you know the battle your fighting is worth it? And do you often think about those of us at home that miss you and worry about you?

I recently watched an HBO special called "Alive Day Memories" about military men and women who narrowly escaped death...and now have constant memories of their "Alive day." It brought tears to my eyes to see these young men and women, disfigured and scared both emotionally and physically. It brought more than tears--it scared me and made me seriously question my political beliefs. We rarely get to see your faces...the faces at the front lines. And once I saw those faces, I became more scared than I've ever been...what is it that keeps you going? Please share with me what keeps you motivated to keep fighting this fight...and if you do have doubts--what are they?

Do you question the validity of your decision to join the military? Are there days when you say to yourself, "wow--i didn't realize what a commitment I was making to my country"? Or, does the feeling of knowing you're making a difference in history trump all of your fear and make you proud to be a member of our military? I ask these questions, because I know that as a young female in America, I would not have the courage to do what so many of you are brave enough to do. I don't know if its because I'm not strong enough to leave my loved ones, or if its because I'm too afraid of what tomorrow holds for our troops. And then, the selfish side of me wants my loved one back in America where I Know he's safe...and the selfless part of me just feels for all the mothers and fathers who go to bed each night knowing their son is in the most dangerous place in the world... and of course, I worry most about those injured in battle. I worry about the troops who have to start over, and retrain all the muscles in their body becaues they no longer have all four limbs...or the ones who can't even share their thoughts because they've lost the ability to speak...and I worry a lot. I'm scared.

I want to know what you're feeling... please share your feelings hear. If anything, you'll be helping me understand one of lives great mysteries (after all, you are men and women who serve others and love a good challenge--take this one) AND...it may just help to get those feelings out...because I feel like people rarely discuss them.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL. YOU ARE THE STRONGEST MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS WORLD AND ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

People volunteer to serve our country in many different way for many different reasons.
My reasons for volunteering to serve my country was a combanation my families heritage and for our freedom.
My family has been fighting for this countries freedom since 1776 up to our present war. I wanted to carry on the tradition of stepping up to the plate when it came my turn to fight for our countries freedom.
I never understood what freedom truely meant until I went to Vietnam and saw exactly how others had to live. I knew exactly that I was in the right place because I never wanted any of my children or grand children to have to live like this or experience it. I was scared but I was also scared the day I took my driving test also. It is much better to fight a war in another area of the world than to fight it in your own neighborhood. Most Americans haven't a clue what freedom really is until they have gone to a different part of the world and seen for themselves how others have to live on a daily basis. Now add a war into that country and they have to deal with the scars of the war.
I believe that most Americans harbor the ability to help someone in need. Whether its somone on the side of the road down on their luck or in another country being run by someone like Hitler or Sadon Hussien.
You star to realize that it is possible for your own loved ones to be in that same enviroment if it is left unchecked.
About your question; do we think about our loved ones when we are away from them in combat. You can take it to the bank, unless someone is running from the law, our loved ones are on our mind all the times. Constantly. Our girlfrends, wifes, children and etc. That is the reason we do it. It is so they never have to experience how low humans will go to be cruel to another. We do not want any of this on our soil.
You remimber 9/11. That was a sad time for all of us. imagine it happening everday all over America.
I hope this might help you understand a little bit better.