With her three sons deployed to two war zones, mother eagerly awaits their return

With her three sons deployed to two war zones, mother eagerly awaits their return
By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, May 11, 2008



Courtesy photo
The three Maray boys — from left, Airman 1st Class Andrew, Army Spc. Eric Maray and Army Staff Sgt. David — pose with their mother, Mary, last December, the last time the entire Maray family was together. Andrew and Eric are currently in Afghanistan, while David is in Iraq and Mary is back home in Fayetteville, N.C., trying not to worry too much.



BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Some parents lose sleep over having one child deployed to a combat zone.

This Mother’s Day, Mary Maray has three.

Her eldest son is an Army staff sergeant serving the final months of a 15-month tour in Baghdad. Her twin sons deployed to Afghanistan this year.

“It’s difficult to have them all gone,” their mother said by telephone from her home in Fayetteville, N.C. “But I left it in God’s hands. I’m at peace with it.”

Army Staff Sgt. David Maray, 24, fixes helicopters in the Iraqi capital. Airman 1st Class Andrew Maray, 22, is an A-10 Thunderbolt II crew chief with the Spangdahlem, Germany-based 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. His twin brother, Spc. Eric Maray, is a topographical analyst with the Army.

Mary Maray’s faith has helped her through the worst, angst-ridden days.

When she found out she would have three sons downrange at the same time, she did what many mother would do: She broke down and cried.

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http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54707

If I had kids, I'd tell them straight up what they'd be enlisting for. I've lost enough blood in my family to idiotic wars.

They don't have to get shot at or blown up.

At least they are all working in technical areas. Really some of the best jobs these days are for the Military Industrial Complex. My son just got back from his second tour. He's a Captain and navigator. He loves his work. He also absolutely knows how I feel about the whole mess. Debate with me is one of his favorite activities. He's more realistic than one might imagine. I really wish they could get those kinds of jobs in the civilian arena.

edit to add: I know it doesn't help to point out how *safe* they are. My son has one of the safest positions. People tell me all the time that it's not so bad. It doesn't put aside the fact that they are still in a WAR. That's the troubling part. Although, I am grateful that all of them are not at the greatest risk. But I don't think any of them should be. So ...