Headed Back

"It’s kind of a mixed emotions because I know they’re sad but I’m happy to be going over there because I love the job and I love what I do."

By Daniel Price

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After almost three years of fighting the war in Iraq, many military personnel have come home only to be sent back again. The rollercoaster of coming home and returning to war can be conflicting for the soldiers and their families. Marine Sgt. Daniel Price talks about his experience going back and forth, and the realities he's learned to face. (December 13 on NPR's Morning Edition)

Just before deploy, you spend a lot more time with your team and your platoon and the guys you work with. You’ll go hang out down in Mexico, go have a party at the beach- you’ll go do that a lot. Like I have friends who are like married and stuff and their wives are like, “Why are you doing this? You’re about to leave and you’re not spending time with your family!”

I mean, I’m spending every minute I can with my team. You’re about to deploy with these guys, you have to know them inside and out and you have to build trust with them. I had my girlfriend out last week from Michigan, my mom’s out this week. She just kind of decided to come out here. A lot of paperwork too has to be done, like wills and power-of-attorney, things like that. Just preparing your family possibly for the worst, not dwelling on it, but preparing them for if something happened.

I sat down with my girlfriend and let her know what I expected of her if I didn’t come back- just to move on and deal with it in best way she can. And same thing with my family. It’s kind of mixed emotions because I know they’re sad, but I’m happy to be going over there because I love the job and I love what I do.

You know, the first time you come back there’s welcoming home parties and stuff. And then the second time, there’s not. I talked to guys who went over there like the very first OF1 and there was way more support than there is now. I don’t let it get to me, you know, if they don’t like it, I feel bad, I feel bad that people don’t see the good that we’re doing over there, but if they don’t, then that’s on them.