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Embedded Stories of Our Soldiers

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Contributed by: MELISSA dockins on 7/9/2008

Have you ever spotted a soldier out of a crowd by their extravagant tattoos on their arms or visible areas of their body? I have always noticed them and as I began to learn some of these many soldiers the stories of war and love became all to revealing! What a simple combat boot means or a dog tag dangling all alone posted on the skin of a soldier is far too wrenching after hearing some of the life long details that are contained in that embedded portion of their skin! When my brother came home from r & r from histhird tour in Iraq, within the firstthree days of being home he spent five hours sitting in upright position waiting for his pain to be revealed outwardly. After it was all done I received a picture of it on my cell phone and it immediately brought tears to my eyes. Only on certain occasions did he ever mention the fatalities that occurred over the last three tours. As a family with many soldiers who have been in the war we learned really fast to never pressure the conversation of "war" always knowing that the results we either a remorseful or angry reaction. Learning that these soldiers form their own 'brotherhood' while overseas it is, I believe even a stronger bond when mission after mission you go out with the same soldiers and trust that they are you ears when you can't hear and your eyes when you can't see. Eventually, they end up saving your life when a unexpected IED explodes or you do get hit, they are the ones to know your pain and get you to safety. Even in the worst situations, they are the ones that you entrust your last words, they are the ones who come back and answer all the questions your family wonders about in your last few minutes!So, of course do we really understand their bond of life? Each one of them knows each others family, kids, wife, and even knows their pets name back home, so for them to come home and spend a significant amount of money on a memorial printed on their body is only a small token of appreciation and love! After five hours, pain, $500, more pain, and a tearful satisfaction it was like this was a step into a healing of his fellow brothers farewell. Many of the five he has embedded on his back have been fallen since the first tour when the war first started and a few that had just recently fallen, each one he wears ever so proudly. His simple explanation to his tattoo was now they are with me forever and every time I turn to look in the mirror I will never forget why I'm still alive today. He vows that with this act the memory of each of the five he has written on his back will never fade from his mind. Like every soldier the stories that they hold will never be told aloud only a mystery of sadness that lies embedded deeply in their pores and in stays forever hidden in their souls!!

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