Yes. He had 6 to 9 month deployments from 2001 until about 2007. The most I got to talk to him was about once a month in a phone call. When he was home it was for about 2-3 months at a time. It was really hard on our family but we had a great support group.
He was in the Air Force based out of Reno Nevada. He stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. He’s been retired for a while now but I can ask him.
Edit: my dad wasn’t in Iran. I misspoke. He previously was stationed in Qatar. I fucked up on this and I’m sorry for any confusion. It’s been a long time but that’s not an excuse to not have my facts right.
This answered my burning question of did he ever get to come home and stay home. Panel 6 made me scared the end was going to be a coffin with the flag draped over it.
As a fellow daddy's girl, hold him tight and tell him you love him when you can. Have the conversations you keep putting off. I lost my dad earlier this year after a long health battle (not cancer for those wondering); I'm absolutely wrecked most days, and I was fully prepared for that day to come.
As an Air Force vet as well from the GWOT era. I highly recommend just sitting and talking with him. Put your phone on voicemail memo and ask him about his service. Basic training, tech school. First duty station, 9/11, everything. His funnies stories and best memories. Even his worst memories.
My mom never talked to my grandfather who was a Korean War vet about his time in uniform, and we don’t know much about his service. I think he’d also be happy to share.
Very, very few Americans died in the GWOT compared to previous wars like Vietnam. In context more American military personnel died by cancers, heart problems, and other “natural causes” during those twenty years than died in combat.
I know in comparison that America lost far fewer soldiers when compared to previous conflicts, but I also know that Dot is not one to shy away from using her comics as a form of therapy to get a traumatic/high stress out of her head entirely to share the emotions she feels in an effort to come to terms with whatever event. Such as when previous pet passed away.
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u/reddot_comic Finessed Impropriety 14h ago
Yes. He had 6 to 9 month deployments from 2001 until about 2007. The most I got to talk to him was about once a month in a phone call. When he was home it was for about 2-3 months at a time. It was really hard on our family but we had a great support group.