Published May 08, 2008 01:01 pm - Soldiers serving stateside and overseas have no way of knowing just how much their moms will miss them this Mother's Day.
On Mother's Day, like every day, moms just pray troops stay safe
When our babies grow up to be soldiers
By Vicky Holland
The Midwest City and Del City Sun (Midwest City, Okla.)
MIDWEST CITY, Okla.
—
Someone will be missing at the Mother’s Day dinner table in tens of thousands of homes across the United States this Sunday.
That someone may be serving our country overseas or stateside in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard. He or she may be in harm’s way or training for the next mission.
But on Mother’s Day, chances are that special someone doesn’t know just how much he’s missed.
“I miss him so much, I can’t even come up with words. When your child is overseas dodging bullets you are fearful for him on a daily basis — minute to minute,” said Jo Weaver of Choctaw, whose son, Sgt. Daniel Campbell, will serve another year with the Army in Iraq.
Five Midwest City and Choctaw mothers with children serving in the military said they want nothing more for Mother’s Day than to hear their sons’ voices. One of the soldiers has been overseas for two years and one mother said goodbye as recently as January. The moms miss their heroes every day. All pray for their child’s safety and the safety of their brothers and sisters in the armed forces.
Just to hear his voice
Laurie Chambers of Midwest City knows the trials and tribulations of military life and the longing to hear from those who serve. She is a veteran of the Air Force and her son, Senior Airman Clark Ryan Chambers, 22, is the fifth generation of her family to serve. Her great-grandfather fought in the Civil War.
“Just to hear his voice saying, ‘Hi, Momma. I love you.’ That would be a Mother’s Day gift to me,” Laurie said.
Clark, a 2003 graduate of Carl Albert High School, is stationed at Lakenheath Royal Air Force Base in England. He’s been gone two years.
Last year on Mother’s Day, he was stationed in Iraq and unable to call home. This year, his mom hopes to hear from him.
“He’s my last born. He’s my baby. He’s my only son,” Laurie said through tears.
She misses everything about him.
“Everything he does puts a smile on my face — his laughs, his mannerisms, the fact he loves his mom and dad so much. He’s really a great kid,” she said.