How many more must die for a war based on lies? How many more will return home, never to be the same again? I implore you, please, look into your heart, remember how you felt, and show the sons and daughters of America that you care.
Anne L. Roesler, Whose Son Has Served Three Tours in Iraq, Saratoga, CA
March 1, 2006
Dear Senator Kerry,
I write this letter with a very heavy heart. You may not remember, but I met with you in September and, at that time, my son was serving his 3rd deployment to Iraq. I asked you, then, when you would stand up and speak out, as you did when you returned home from Vietnam, on behalf of the soldiers in Iraq who haven’t yet found the courage to do so. You replied that, while you didn’t believe that the Iraqi elections would make a significant difference in the outcome of the situation, you felt it necessary for them to be held. Well, the elections have been held; the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate; and to date, you have remained silent.
My son returned home for a third time, and for that I am thankful. However, it is clear to me that he will never be the same. I’ve watched him turn from a sensitive young man, who wore his heart on his sleeve and was in awe of being “in the cradle of civilization” in Iraq, into someone who is filled with so much anger that he can barely speak. You may think his anger is directed at the Iraqis or at those who’ve been variously described as terrorists and insurgents, and on some level you’d be correct. However, those with whom he is most angry sit in Washington, D.C. He is angry at all of our leaders for taking us into and supporting this war – a war that he questioned from the beginning, and he is now convinced is illegal and unjust. He has told me that he’s “tired of putting kids in body bags, so that some people’s pockets can be lined with blood money.” He has told me that he feels betrayed – betrayed by you and our other elected Congressional representatives who have the power to stop this war, yet remain silent. He has told me that troop morale is low, and the reason for that is because “our government sends us back over, and over, and over again.” Prior to his last deployment, I asked him what his mission was; he replied, “I don’t know what our mission is; I haven’t known for a long time. All I know is that when I get over there, it’s me or them.” Is this what freedom and democracy are about?
Since the invasion, my son has spent almost two years in Iraq, and yes, he returned to us alive once again, but he doesn’t sleep at night; he can neither eat nor be around groups of people; and he jumps at every sound. He was only home for four months between the second and third deployments, and he’s told me that it will take him years to get over this. I don’t believe he’ll ever get over this, and I live in fear that he’ll be sent back for a fourth deployment. However, as terrifying as that is to me, it isn’t the worst of my fears. My greatest fear isn’t that he’ll return in a body bag but that he’ll return as someone whom I no longer know… someone so different from the caring young man I raised that I’ll no longer recognize him.
During his second deployment, and in one of his darkest moments, he called home and asked, “Mom, where are the American people? Do they know what’s going on over here? Do they even care about us?” Senator, I put that question to you - do you care about our sons, our daughters, our loved ones? If you do, then when will you call for them to be brought home? How many more must die for a war based on lies? How many more will return home, never to be the same again? I implore you, please, look into your heart, remember how you felt, and show the sons and daughters of America that you care.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my voice.
Sincerely,
Anne L. Roesler
Saratoga, CA
