that day

you knew that day was coming. you knew from the moment he told you he was a marine. the moment he told you he was a soldier. the moment he told you he was an airmen. the moment he told you he was a sailor. someday, he would walk through the door and tell you he's been called up, been given orders, been told he's shipping out. no matter what he says, you feel the air becoming thinner, it's hard to breathe. the tears are welling up in your eyes. you told yourself this day would come, but never thought it come now.

i remember the day like it was yesterday. i had my interview with the principal of the la-4 program and was offered the teaching position. i was over the moon and couldn't wait to share my excitement with aaron. when he called at lunch, i wanted to tell him, but kept mum until dinner. i could tell in his voice something was up, but he wouldn't say. that night over dinner he told me: 'they want me to deploy and catch up with my unit. since i've got combat experience, they could use my help.' suddenly my news of a new job just didn't seem that relevant anymore. that was the first deployment for us together. he would deploy three weeks later.

the second time around i remember getting the phone call while at a ladies' coffee at the commander's house! he called from the field (usually when they go to jrtc it's a dead give away that orders are to follow). he told me that they had been attached and could leave as early as mid-april. that was just four weeks away! what about our september wedding? what about 12 months dwell time? what about our plans? as i hung up the phone i tried hard to fake a smile. i wondered if any of the wives at the coffee knew yet.
aaron's wifey
army
2 deployments

this second deployment we knew was coming for a long time. so, i had a lot of time to cope. although, when it came closer, i had many panic attacks.

the first deployment we both found out while we were out to dinner for our valentine's dinner. we were at a nice place- hubby just got out of a school and was able to come visit me. we knew he was going to viriginia, but a lady called with his orders and he answered and she said he was leaving in five days for his deployment, but he had to report in the morning to his unit in virginia. i saw his face and knew something was up. he told me and i cried. we left carrabbas and went to my house and stayed up until 5am watching movies and talking. i was devastated but i coped with the help of my mom and friends.

dropping him off at the bus station the next morning was so hard. there were a bunch of women on the bus who saw me crying and his bags and they all cried. they tried to cheer him up the whole ride to the airport, but then they had him crying too. two days later he took a 13 hr bus ride up to new jersey just to spend a few hours with me and to ask me to marry him. and then he boarded the bus to head back to virginia. and then he was gone.
kym
army
1 deployment

the first deployment we both knew it was coming. as soon as he graduated from soi and found out his unit, we knew it was only a matter of time.

i had a lot of time to prepare for it, but the anticipation was much worse than the actual deployment.

the first deployment, i was a mess. i didn't really cope and i made no effort to distract myself. let me tell you what NOT to do. do not watch the news constantly, do not stalk news websites looking for information on his unit, and do not stay home all day, everyday. do get out of the house. don't be afraid to leave your computer and keep your cell on you at all times.

the second deployment was more of a shock to both of us. his company was due to be the remain behind element for his deployment. about six months before he was scheduled to deploy, we ofund out he was moving companies and would be deploying after all. the anticipation of the deployment was still just as bad. but don't believe those people who tell you that it can't and won't get get easier.

this time around i've kept busy. i haven't been chained to my laptop and i'm not afraid to go out and have fun. the separation is still hard, but this deployment is much better than the first. look at it as an opportunity to grow and not as a time of sadness.
leah lou
marines
2 deployments