Perspective: The Fear of Farewell

Is fear of the unknown really worse than fear of the known?

I ask myself this question as the father of a U.S. soldier who will soon redeploy to Iraq. My son Alex served one tour of duty, from 2005 to 2006. It caused me, as well as many family members and friends, constant anxiety and worry. But back then, it was new territory for all of us. No one had had a loved one participate actively in a war before. We didn't know what to expect. And we didn't know how we'd react.

But now we know. And that's why our fears may be even greater when Alex heads back to Iraq in July.

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