Military Families » Group

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Take Care

Sarah

I'm not from a military family per se, though my ex-hubby was an army brat and his dad a viet vet and my grandfather was a light horseman in WW1, so I've heard my share of war tales. However, I'm starting to feel like I haven't heard enough. So I've temporarily joined this group just to ask a question as it's the most appropriate place to ask.

I've recently been roped into singing for a local band, and one of the songs I was given to learn is "I was only 19" (originally titled "a walk in the light green") by Redgum. It's about PTSD and the Vietnam war.

Now I can relate in the sense that I also suffer PTSD very extremely - even wrote a few advice articles about it, and I have done enough research to get an idea how bad it must have really been; but I haven't been in any war, never been to Vietnam, and have never even been in the army reserves.

I'll be singing it in the first person with no lyric changes and I'm not only too young to have been in the Vietnam war, but I'm also female. I'm a little concerned that people are going to look at me and think, "Yeah, ya singing the song but what the hell would you know!" I'm singing it for the purpose of dedication and that it's a great song that should never be forgotten, just as the story it tells shouldn't be forgotten.

I was wondering if anyone here can tell me anything that might help me get into the headspace of someone that was actually there, looking back on it now. It's a song that needs passion and emotion, but is the emotion needed saddness, anger, frustration or what? I can imagine all of the above and can do that, but looking for a personally experienced opinion here.

Also, would having a younger female singing the song instead of a bloke be frowned upon or appreciated? I imagine appreciated, cause it's not like we're doing a mock of it or anything, but being a female singer... might it be perceived the wrong way? I've never even heard of any female singer doing this song before, not even at a karaoke gig!

Any ideas, stories, opinions, etc; would be appreciated.

Cheers, DA

There was some rumors circulating that my husbands unit was to be deployed in October of this year...at his last training session the captain addressed everyone and let them know that on paper they are not scheduled for deployment until 2009, I'm so releived, although I probably wont be when 2009 gets closer.  I'm just holding out hope that when the new us govt takes over, there won't be a war anymore and therefore there will no longer be a deployment!

I hope everyone is well, take care and dont forget to update us on any new changes, etc!

Sarah

Hey all,

Well Stuart is gone and the first week i was a total mess. This is the first deployment for us and i didn't know what to expect but as each day passes i find it a little bit easier. I am trying to keep myself busy but somedays it just doesn't help. I wish kasey was old enough to fully understand as she keeps asking can we go and pick daddy up and it  breaks my heart to know that we can't just yet. Tysen understand where daddy is but doesn't fully know what daddy has to do, He knows that he has gone to help people in another country and he can't come home for a while. We are all still adjusting to it and hopefully it gets easier to deal with.

Theresa

hey there, i am new to this site, and new to this army life too!! hehe!!
my hubbie joined about a year.. no nearly two.. time flies.. i have known him for 11 years so i am counting on that to get us thru it all!! he is really enjoying it, so that makes it all easier..
i know we havnet been in it for long, and we havent moved away too far, and he hasnt been sent away.. we really are new and have nothing to complain about.. but it was really good to see this site as i no doubt will need some ears who konw what i am talking about..
i love a chat, so if you wanna drop a line, your more than welcome! 
i work from home, and will be having a baby in about 3 months (or less) and we are moving away (of course we dont know where yet) so i will be on here chatting a lot later.. prolly december.. but i'll always poke my head in.. and on line all day!!

This pic was taken yesterday at Kings Park in Perth Aust.  We went to support my father in law.  Tracey

Interesting.. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070817/hl_hsn/depressiontakingtollonreturningusvets

What with 15 month deployments I am sure it will get worse!!

Hi all,

My husband has been in the army for 20 years but we have been together for 6 years. Although it is hard at times, I enjoy it when he goes away (on short trips). I enjoy my own space but I love the feeling of waiting to see him again after he's been away for a while. We have moved three times in the last four years and we're off again after xmas. Hubby goes overseas next year for another long deployment. So, time to be mum & dad again shortly. Not really looking forward to it, but happy we're moving to Queensland! 

Tracey

I found this site tonight tryin to find some answers to some questions and saw this site and how it was a bunch of parents with the same questions and also one's that had the answers! And then someone sent me this link seeing that I was also and army wife! This is wonderful! I'll have to let my friends know about this!

Hi every one, it seems that i am the only male in my family that has not served in the forces, but with father, grand and great grand fathers and my brother and assorted uncles,  all having served i guess i am justifiably a military family member, one reason that i wanted to join this group is to see if i can make contact with any one who has served or knows someone who has served in east timor during the 1990;s particularly in  medical i am mainly interested with the Australian forces but am keen to hear from anyone else that might have been there, thanks Ian