I am angry at my brother for enlisting in the Army. Please read...?

Question

Okay, first off, my family has a very strong military tradition. My dad was in the Navy for 22 years. My stepdad was in the Army for 27 when he suffered an injury in Iraq. I also have 7 older brothers. Two of whom have already died in Iraq and 3 more who are all enlisted. Now my brother, who I am closest too, has enlisted. I can't help but be angry at him for it. And I feel selfish about being angry. I am proud of our familys military history and the service that they have all done for our country. And I am d**n proud of my brothers who died defending what they believed. So why am I so angry with him for enlisting? And, do you have any advice? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Your family has already paid a very high price for all of us and if it were my brother I think I would be angry too.  You are not so much mad at him as you are tired of the worry you know is coming.  You know, too well, what can happen.  You are mad at the anticipated fear and grief.  I think you need to sit yourself down and write yourself a note that you can read every day.  In the note tell yourself why you love your brother and why you feel closest to him.  Do not let him know how you feel.  Be sure to write him frequently.  Tell him often how proud you are of him and how much you love him.  The rest of us will tell you, your family and brother thank you for his service.  He will be in my prayers along with all of our service men and women and their families.

Answer 2

You are probably angry because you have already lost two brothers and are afraid to lose another one. I am so sorry for your loses and grateful to your family for their service. Maybe you should sit down with your brother and express your feelings. He could comforter you, or at least explain his actions to you. Whatever happens you need to let him know you love him and support him. Sounds like you two are very close and he is going to need you right now. Work it out, Good Luck

Answer 3

Keep your anger to yourself: you don't have the right to make him feel bad because you do! As to why you feel 'so angry': you're angry for the same irrational reasons my mother is angry. She can't put it into word either, she just calls me a 'Male Chauvinist Pig' and threatens not to come to my funeral if I volunteer for combat and get killed.  

Answer 4

Not your decision! it's his decision! Just stand by him its all you can do!

Answer 5

Not your decision! it's his decision!

Do your part and enlist too!

Answer 6

We often feel anger towards those that we are closest to when they do something that we know to be dangerous..

My advise, talk to him about it. Often times you will find that it helps.

I myself have two brothers in the army. One just got back from Iraq not long ago and he is due to retire in the next couple of months. The other is still over there.

Please, thank your family for their service.

Answer 7

7 brothers?? I thought I was in trouble with 3. You are angry because you are anxious and afraid you are going to lose another brother. It is

not real anger. It is just you are scared for him. There is no real advice I can give you. Millions of women have felt the same over centuries.

You have to accept that he is going and may not come back.If you

believe in what he is doing then do your best to be positive and support him now and when he is overseas.

Answer 8

You already posted this question. I understand you're upset, but please don't spam.

My advice to you is simply to follow your family's proud military tradition and to enlist yourself.  

Answer 9

You need to realize where you brother is coming from.

My family also has a large military tradition. my grandfather was in the marines durring peacetime, my other grandfather was in the navy retired and then went to work for a naval shipyard and retired again. one of my uncles has been in the army for 14 years, and my other uncle searved his time in the navy.

The worst that our family has experienced was that my uncle in the army had to come home from honduras early because my aunt died in a car accident.

My husbands father was in the air force durring Vitenam, and his father was in the pearl harbor attack taking cover under a humvee. he was in the army air corps, before there was an air force. both were near death and in attackes, and both walked away un harmed.

my husband and i both joined the air force. he wanted to go to Iraq and live up to the tradition, and i needed to accomplish a sense of empowerment.

We both carry a ST CHRISTOPHER coin with us every day. and we have both survived Kuwait, Iraq, and I also went to Turkey.

It was a need that my husband felt he needed to do. He needed to live up to the traditions and uphold the family name.

Your brother already is feeling this way. If he wasnt ready to give up his life, because hes seen it happen, then he wouldnt have enlisted. Its not just to serve the country, but to serve and give his respect to your brothers.

There is no use being angry. Its important to him, and Even though im sure it stresses your famiy out and gets the worried, they are proud.