Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan

honor we would consider that to be!”

Of course, we did not like hearing that, and no one really thought that they would be martyred like Stephen in the Bible. But what a comfort to know my father considered it an honor to be martyred. He considered it an honor to bring light to darkness no matter the cost.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the honor of bringing light to darkness. Shine brilliantly through me today, casting your glow and spreading your hope.

“But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” (Acts 12:24)

December 16 SENDING MY BABY TO WAR Patti Smith, Mother of two Marines deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2007, organizer of Operation Santa in the Midwest.

I wanted to fall apart right there at the airport, but something came over me. I gently grabbed my Marine son, Josey, by the chin and said, “Now you listen here… you come back to me alive and in one piece you understand?” For a brief moment he was my little boy again. His towering six foot six frame could not disguise his eyes filling with tears, lower lip quivering; he could only nod.

“Okay then,” I said. “I will talk to you soon.”

Surely this was the hardest thing I had ever done send my baby off to war. My two sons are United States Marines and last year both were deployed at the same time. My youngest, Josey, was the first to go to Iraq.

While home on his pre-deployment leave, I had tried to soak up and savor every moment with him. But now here we were at the Peoria, Illinois, airport. Before leaving America, he would return briefly to his base in California. My heart was breaking; I was so frightened of the unknown journey that laid ahead. I was silently pleaded with God to give me strength to be calm during the parting moments with my son.

We hugged one last time, then my husband Greg and I went up to the observation deck and watched his plane take off. I gazed into the sky long after it was out of sight then collapsed on a nearby bench and wept bitterly.

“Please don’t let this be the last time I saw my son alive,” I begged God.

For some mothers, it was.

For me, life began to be lived not one day at a time but rather one breath at a time. As Josey began the first leg of his journey, I began the first steps of my own through the valley of the shadow of death as I watched him fly off to war.

Prayer:

Father, Shepherd, help me trust in your presence today, even though fear threatens to overwhelm me.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

^{Patti Smith with sons Josey (left) and Jesse (right) (Color Classics, Peoria, IL)}

December 17 BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD Patti Smith, Mother of two Marines deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2007, organizer of Operation Santa in the Midwest.

“Mom I’m getting ready to leave the States,” Josey called to tell me.

“I’m in Germany,” was the next announcement.

And finally, “Mom, I’m in Iraq.”

With each phone call, I felt as though an elevator was slowly lowering me into the valley of the shadow of death. I would linger in that valley for many months to come.

Viewing the nightly news with its images of war and carnage, I would just shake my head. My son was in there somewhere, and I was absolutely powerless to help him. My total dependence came to be my faith in God; but oh how I wavered at times.

A couple of months later, the whole ordeal occurred again when my other son Jesse was deployed. This wasn’t fear of the unknown; it was sheer terror of the unknown!

Although I have always been healthy, my physical body began to break down during this time. I was seeing a doctor; there was no apparent reason for my symptoms other than internalized stress. It was suggested I get on medication to cope but I refused. Sleeping through the night had become a thing of the past. Naps became my way of life. Awakened every night, I would pray and pray that the angels would protect my sons.

Car lights shining down our street at night would make me hysterical. I would run to the window to see if it was a government vehicle with two Marines coming to deliver dreaded news. If so, which son would it be?

One day I received an email from a friend and fellow Marine mom in another state. Her son was serving with Josey. It read, “Two Marines in dress blues just left our home. Our son Joe was killed yesterday. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” I screamed aloud when I read it.

Prayer:

Lord, strengthen my faith in you so that when tragedy strikes I may still praise your name.

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21b)

December 18 REUNION Patti Smith, Mother of two Marines deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2007, organizer of Operation Santa in the Midwest.

Thoughts of my sons being in danger haunted me day and night. As president of our local military support group, I still had many responsibilities to carry on meetings to conduct, support to give others, and service projects to complete.

During this time, I delivered two condolence books to mothers of fallen soldiers. After praying and crying with them, I would drive away from their home begging God, “Please don’t let me be next.” I felt the shadow of death as a constant dark weight over my spirit and body.

Finally, the day came for me to attend Josey’s homecoming in Twenty-nine Palms, California, along with Kelly, his girlfriend at the time (now his wife). While we waited for his returning bus, the wounded from Josey’s company walked among us. Some had limbs missing, were in wheelchairs, one was on crutches. The faces of handsome young men were scarred from burns. As they walked through the crowd, spontaneous applause broke out.

Nearby on a table was a beautiful patriotic quilt. We all signed it for a family who’s Marine would not be returning home, yet that family was there to support the rest of us. The look on their faces was haunting. How