I am very grateful and relieved that my mother recently returned from a tour with her reserve unit in Iraq (below). I'll try to refrain from any political comments, but, what exactly is/was the plan there? Whatever it is, I fear for the future of Iraq and the US- I can only offer my sincerest wishes for the safety and happiness of everyone in Iraq.
Lightening
up a bit, my mom did not put up with any crap from my brother
or me when we were kids (especially my brother). <— Here is a picture
of my mom and brother at her grandparent's old home in Clearwater, FL.
My mom is also a veterinarian, so growing up most people addressed her as "Doctor"
or "Captain" or "Major" or some other assorted honorific.
Between her and our dad we got to see most of the world
growing up. Since I left home, her work has also taken her to Panama, Haiti,
and Bosnia on various escapades (with the army), and also to England and other
places to help stamp 
out
animal diseases such as foot mouth disease (representing USDA). Actually, she
is with a civil affairs brigade, so she mostly does humanitarian work with the
army (oxymoronic, eh?).
Anyway, we are all very proud of her. Her residence is now in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she raises goats —>, guinea fowl, a cat or two, a great pyrenees (goat tending dog), etc...
<—In
this photo, I believe one of her sisters (off camera) is giving my mom and brother
a lecture about parenting/sibling skills. My mom had given David a bunch of
toys for Christmas and all I got was a pair of socks...