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A GREAT Sadness upon My HEART

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A GREAT Sadness upon My HEART

from JoeUser Forums

My Nephew Christopher the one I asked for prayers for his safety while he was In Iraq, came home on leave, he was due to go back to Kuwait yesterday, Upon awakening my Daughter Bobbi whom he was using as a rest stop between partying found his Uniforms left behind, everything else was gone.

His ambitions are apparent, he plans on running and not returning to Iraq, so far he will just be charged with Article 86 and maybe article 87 of the UCMJ. Article 86 is Unauthorized absence and article 87 is missing ships movement a coverall for missing your return flight too.

SIX days from now charges will be filed against him for this, 21 days later he will be classified a deserter in time of war.

Needless to say my entire family is stunned and deeply saddened by this turn of events.

The few combat vets in my family are hit the hardest about this, we all fought in different wars with honor and can not believe that one of us has done this. My phone has been ringing non-stop as if I have some kind of solution for this problem, well I don't, I wish I did, but the sad truth is only Christopher does. No one knows where he is or where he is going, no one saw this coming.

I have been in tears since yesterday and the tears continue to flow, my ex-wife is in such pain I cannot begin to tell you.

I ask G-D that he keeps his hand on Christopher's shoulder and that Christopher wakes up and realizes exactly what he has gotten himself in to.

Leavenworth will be where he serves his time if he goes past the 30 day mark, he will be discharged with a dishonorable, he will be stripped of his pay grade, and all pay and allowances, he will be facing a General Court Marshall, if he turns himself in before the 30 day period he will face a Summery Court Marshall, he will still be stripped of his rank, he might get away with just a undesirable discharge or a Bad conduct Discharge, while both are bad to have neither one is as devastating as a dishonorable discharge.

I ask for prayers for Christopher to do the right thing or what is most right in his situation.

For some reason I just cannot wrap my mind around that I just might have a DESERTER in my family. Selfish thought? yes it is, real? yes it is and I don't know what to do. I do not do helpless very well.

10,026 views 89 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
danielostAugust 9, 2007 16:30:02


do you know for sure that he didn't go back.


maybe at the last moment he changed his mind. didn't have time to come back and get his uniforms.


His jet ticket has not been used. We are keeping track of anything that could tell us what he is doing.
Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
(Citizen)InBloomAugust 9, 2007 16:35:59


So sorry to hear this, MM. I do feel for him...but I hope that he does turn himself in to prevent further troubles.


Thank you Rose for the kind thoughts, pray for him if you are inclined to do so.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am sad to hear this,desertion in wartime used to mean firing squad,now it can be a life imprisonment....I hope your Nephew wakes up before its to late for a dishonorable discharge is something you do not want on a employment application or desertion,because if he does not go back now and they got to come after him it will not be a pretty thing for all involved.

I had a hard time living down a general discharge because I was medicaled out at the end of basic training,and for 18 yrs I could not put anything service related on a application or I would not get the job without having all medical records present.

Also a buddy of mine spent time in Leavenworth behind bars for deserting his post and got a dishonorable and he works gypsy like jobs,ones where he has no applications to fill out,just the normalsocial security and drivers license and that it,as for Leavenworth he did not like being there.
Pastor Terry
Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top
jeremiah3131August 9, 2007 17:45:23


I am sad to hear this,desertion in wartime used to mean firing squad,now it can be a life imprisonment....I hope your Nephew wakes up before its to late for a dishonorable discharge is something you do not want on a employment application or desertion,because if he does not go back now and they got to come after him it will not be a pretty thing for all involved.


being a former Marine I am totally aware of the dire straights Christopher has placed himself in. My entire family is deep in prayer that he wakes up before 30 days pass and desertion charges fall on him, besides I doubt his ability to survive in Leavenworth, a Dishonorable is something that will totally ruin his civilian life, forever, he will not be able to own a business, own a home, vote, own weapons or get any kind of bonded job, His Army training is Helicopter repair something that translates into big money in civilian life, but he will be unable to get any kind of job doing that, unless he works for a criminal organization.
Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top
jeremiah3131August 9, 2007 17:45:23

being a former Marine I am totally aware of the dire straights Christopher has placed himself in. My entire family is deep in prayer that he wakes up before 30 days pass and desertion charges fall on him, besides I doubt his ability to survive in Leavenworth, a Dishonorable is something that will totally ruin his civilian life, forever, he will not be able to own a business, own a home, vote, own weapons or get any kind of bonded job, His Army training is Helicopter repair something that translates into big money in civilian life, but he will be unable to get any kind of job doing that, unless he works for a criminal organization.


I am praying also,can I ask how long was he in and was this the first time he was been this far from home? For helio repair he did not see much front line engagement and being in Kuwait can be dull for Islamic laws are strict when it comes to women.
Pastor Terry
Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top
jeremiah3131August 9, 2007 18:15:35


I am praying also,can I ask how long was he in and was this the first time he was been this far from home? For helio repair he did not see much front line engagement and being in Kuwait can be dull for Islamic laws are strict when it comes to women.
Pastor Terry


Kuwait was his jumping off point into Iraq, he was there from February till the beginning of this month and still had to finish a 15 month tour.

He saw some action while repairing a 'downed' helo he had to fight his way clear from insurgents with the support of a squad of grunts at his beck and call, giving him cover fire and support while he did his job, this was an exceptional thing, not the norm, usually he was behind a secured position.
Reply #32 from JoeUser Forums Top
MM, is he Army or Marines?

For some reason I thought he was a Marine.
Reply #33 from JoeUser Forums Top
(Citizen)Texas WahineAugust 9, 2007 18:37:20


MM, is he Army or Marines?

For some reason I thought he was a Marine.


Nope he broke the family tradition and joined the Army, I forgave him for that. heh.
Reply #34 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am praying that he comes to his senses,so many young people nowadays try to run from what they started without thinking of those they hurt.
Pastor Terry
Reply #35 from JoeUser Forums Top
jeremiah3131August 9, 2007 19:25:01


I am praying that he comes to his senses,so many young people nowadays try to run from what they started without thinking of those they hurt.
Pastor Terry


me too, it's not just that he is screwing up his life, he is also causing his entire family which is a considerable number of people great pain, wondering is he ok< is he alive? where is he?
Reply #37 from JoeUser Forums Top
(Citizen)just johnAugust 9, 2007 21:34:46


I hope he finds his way.


Thank you John, {Prayers are gratefully accepted} good thoughts too.
Reply #38 from JoeUser Forums Top
(Citizen)little-whipAugust 10, 2007 06:08:37


Friday morning check-in.

Any news, babe?


it's 4:04 A.M. and I have not slept, no news yet, sleep eludes me as my brain is working overtime spinning its wheels, like a gerbil running in one of those circular things, running as fast as it can and getting no where.
No news. Family has gone bonkers, last night his mother suggested calling the police, I vetoed that Idea as him being captured is the worse thing that can happen to him.

thank for inquiring Whip,

MM
Reply #39 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks LW, for the Friday Morning check-in.
Reply #40 from JoeUser Forums Top
Have you called his friends,the bus station,someone is hiding him and supporting him while he is hiding,not unless he has a pocket full of cash,for if he has a bank account or credit card see about doing a search of transactions,tell them the truth you are trying to locate your nephew for he is gone missing and it is to early to notify police.
Just some advice,because cash is hard to trail but checks and credit cards are not.\
Pastor Terry
Reply #41 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'll add my prayers in too. Keep us posted.
Reply #42 from JoeUser Forums Top
AD, wants to know how you doing as well and any news about your nephew?
Reply #43 from JoeUser Forums Top
Christopher called, said "I am ok" and hung up, the call was from "unknown caller" when I tried to get information about it, it was pinned to a phone booth in Wisconson and a calling card was used.
Reply #44 from JoeUser Forums Top
at least you know he is ok.
Reply #45 from JoeUser Forums Top
(Citizen)stranieraAugust 10, 2007 22:40:04


I'll add my prayers in too. Keep us posted.


this is very kind of you. thank you.
Reply #46 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks for the update. At the Torah Study here we will lift him and your family up in prayer.

Shabbat Shalom Havarim!
Reply #47 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am glad he checked in to let you know he is ok. That is good news. Not the best news, but still good news.
Reply #48 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm glad that he's okay.
Reply #49 from JoeUser Forums Top

Reply By: Adventure-DudePosted: Saturday, August 11, 2007
Thanks for the update. At the Torah Study here we will lift him and your family up in prayer.

Shabbat Shalom Havarim!

 

lift him wayyyyyyyyy up cause right now if I get my oversized hands on him, G-d only knows...

Reply #50 from JoeUser Forums Top

Reply By: LocamamaPosted: Saturday, August 11, 2007
I'm glad that he's okay.

Reply By: Texas WahinePosted: Saturday, August 11, 2007
I am glad he checked in to let you know he is ok. That is good news. Not the best news, but still good news.

thanx you two, but still the call shows he knows how bad he fucked up and does not want to hear it.