Operation House Call Featured in the "Army Times"

Families bristle at word of tour extension

By Karen Jowers Times staff writer

For some families of soldiers in the 172nd Stryker Brigade, the July 27 announcement of the extension of their tour in Iraq was just too much.

Some of them are joining the ranks of the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out. “We’ve had a whole group of people who have joined since the announcement,” said Nancy Lessin, co-founder of the group. She was working to get an exact count at press time, and said e-mails are still coming in to the organization. “They are having meetings at families’ homes,” she said. “Many family members hold their breath until their loved one gets home,” and then speak out, she said. “But something like this puts them over the edge.

“There has never before been a group of military families breaking the code of silence like this,” she said. “It speaks to the horrific nature of the invasion and now occupation of Iraq.”

Lessin and her husband, Charley Richardson of Boston, founded the organization with another military family in November, 2002, to speak out against military action in Iraq. Their Marine son served in Iraq in 2003.

The organization now has grown to more than 3,000 military family members. Most are parents or spouses or fiancées of troops, she said, but there are also siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and children. “I got one e-mail from a young man whose 59-year-old mother was being deployed,” she said.

Since June 22, some members of the group have staged “Operation House Call” near the U.S. Capitol, making statements to congressmen, staff members, and others as they pass by. The number varies daily, but more than 50 family members have participated at some point, coming from the Washington, D.C., area as well as other locations around the country. By the time they finish Aug. 3 when Congress is expected to go into summer recess, the number may reach 100.

A number of service members, including some Marines and a West Point graduate, have thanked them for their efforts, Lessin said.

Group members have also visited a number of congressmen and senators. “As we go in to offices, we often take two pairs of boots and put them on the table to show an average of two troops are being killed for each day that Congress fails to act,” she said.

They will continue to speak out until their goals are met, Lessin said. Those goals “are to end the occupation and bring the troops home; to take care of them when they get here.

“And never again send our loved ones to a reckless misadventure putting them in harm’s way in a war based on lies,” she said.

Group members have been maintaining their vigil near the Cannon House office building when Congress is in session.

The group is worried about the care of troops who return, especially their mental health. “The biggest single issue among families lucky enough to welcome their troops home is PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder],” she said.

But there’s a broader concern, too, Lessin added. “There’s a real sense among families this war is destroying the military,” she said, noting that “many service members who wanted to make the military a career” and were devoted to their service, have chosen to leave the military.

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1985733.php

Speaking Out and Supporting Operation House Call

On Saturday, MFSO members John and Marge were invited to speak at Congregation Beth Emet in Evanston. Following Sabbath services, Marge and John addressed the members of the Social Action Committee and did a pretty extensive Q and A session after. This talk was part of their educational series on the war in Iraq. We learned that some members of the Congregation had family and friends in Israel in these very troubling times...and it was very easy to identify with their concerns - when it comes down to it, in war and occupation Family Matters.

John's son retuned from Iraq earlier this year. He shared some stories regarding personnel and equipment shortages that are a constant source of concern in Iraq and have served to increase the casualty count on both sides. John's observation, as a former artillary officer, was that US policy was only half heartedly pursuing those responsible for terrorism.

Marge spoke of similar problems in Afghanistan - often touted as the "blueprint" for freedom in Iraq but in reality, just another quagmire that has resulted in unnecessary casualties both civilian and Military in an occupation that is nearly 5 years old. Her son is currently engaged in the large offensive in the southern and eastern parts of that country which as seen the worst violence since 2001 just ahead of the NATO take over of peace keeping responsibilities in that country.

Members of the Congregation thanked us for our very personal stories telling us that they helped paint a picture of the lives of our Soldiers and the stress it places on families at home.

When they have finished their educational series, the Social Action Committee plans to propose a resolution for the full Congregation to call for a speedy end to the Occupation in Iraq. We hope that our stories help them in their cause.

Most members took Operation House Call post cards to sign and forward to Barak Obama calling on him to Act NOW to bring about an end to our occupation of Iraq.

Operation House Call - Week Three in DC

This week, Georgia, MFSO Wisconsin paid a house call on some Illinois lawmakers. She was interested in visiting them because her Soldier son who suffers from PTSD resides in the Chicagoland area. Dennis Hastert was among those she wished to visit. Initially, he refused - but then various groups, MFSO-Chicago among them began calling to ask his scheduler WHY a Member of Congress who "supports the troops" would refuse to address the concerns of a Soldier's Mom? He relented and a meeting took place. MFSO member Stacy accompanied her. You can link to the story of the meeting here.

New Website

Operation House Call has a brand spanking new website. It is www.operationhousecall.org. Please visit often to check how our members in DC are doing...and for ways you can support them in your own district.

North Suburbs House Calls

150 House Call Post cards have been distributed to mail to Senator Obama and the 8th District incumbent, Melissa Bean. Thanks to Code Pink - Chicago and concerned Lake County Residents for your help. MFSO-Chicago has also sent several news stories highlighting the human cost of war to these lawmakers.

Since it seems that Representative Hastert's staff does not read the paper, I sent him a House Card letter and press clipping to identify one of Illinois latest casualties. Stacy had paid his DC office a House Call...and left a young staffer flustered when he was unable to give the names of the Soldiers who had died in Iraq the previous day. Sadly, the DOD has reported other Illinois casualties this week.

MFSO-Chicago participated in the North Suburban National Organization for Women's Meet the Candidates event to bring our message to incumbents and hopefuls alike. We will also have a representative at a gathering of peace groups meeting with Democratic candidate, Dan Seals later this week.