MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Online Schools
| Find Jobs
Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • Veteran Benefits
    • Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

Valentine’s Day in Afghanistan

By Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

Afghanistan (Feb. 14, 2012) — A Soldier gets a care package in the mail. The package is from his wife. As she insisted, he waits until Valentine’s Day to open it.

Inside there is a heart, he presses it, and he hears his wife’s voice.

“I love you and I miss you. I can’t wait for you to be home and I’m thinking about you always. Love you babe,” said Mrs. Franco.

Her husband is 1st Lt. Christopher Franco with Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. Franco is deployed to Forward Operating Base Price, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

“I couldn’t ask for a more amazing wife. A Soldier couldn’t be more thankful for how patient and understanding she’s been throughout this deployment,” said Franco. “I’ve never met someone so loving, caring and again patient. This is no easy task for any relationship.”

When a loved one is in a combat zone, family members stress levels are often heightened. Stress can increase not only out of concern for their Soldier’s well-being, but also having to take care of home responsibilities that are normally shared.

“Deployment is hard. It’s hard for Soldiers to be separated from their wives, but often it is even harder for wives since they don’t have the support like Soldiers have with each other. Valentine’s Day is all the more important for men to stop in the midst of their routine and send their wives that special note and flowers to remind their wives that they are special and not forgotten,” said Capt. Scott Koeman, Battalion chaplain with 4-23, also deployed to FOB Price.

Franco longs to be with his wife to celebrate Valentine’s Day. His message to her is simple.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, I wish I could be there. You should be getting your bear with flowers, without lilies because they would probably kill our cat,” he said.

Newlyweds, the couple just celebrated their one year anniversary.

“I love her very much and can’t wait to see her in a few months,” said Franco.

Another Charlie Company Soldier, Staff Sgt. Pedro Chavez, received an enormous Valentine’s card in the mail. Surprisingly, the card made it to Afghanistan without a single dent. He would like his wife to know that he loves her, misses her, and can’t wait to get home.

“As a chaplain, I’m reminded over and over again about the demands and stress deployment places on marriages. Many of our Soldiers lift weights and improve their physical stamina. I emphasis with my Soldiers what the Bible says in Ephesians 5:28-29; ‘Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it.’ Any day that a Soldier calls or writes his wife to tell her that he loves her he is actually investing in himself and that is a Valentine’s Day. If he does something special because it’s Feb. 14th, that’s great too,” said Koeman.

For one Soldier, Pvt. First Class Veronica Jakab, a cook with 4-23, Valentine’s Day makes her think of her mom. Valentine’s Day is her mother’s birthday, and she has a few heartfelt words for her.

Ready to Join the Army? Contact a Recruiter Now!

“Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you and I’m thinking about you on Valentine’s Day,” said Jakab, who is also deployed to FOB Price.

There are undoubtedly thousands of deployed service members thinking of their loved one’s today, and families praying for their military hero’s safe return home.

“Valentine’s Day is a special day,” said Koeman. “It’s special because it reminds a man to pause in the midst of the demands of life and appreciate the woman he so dearly loves. He takes notice and says to his woman, ‘You are the most important person in my life. You are the love of my life. You are my Valentine.'”

Related Posts:

  • USNCC Pilot Program Set to Launch January 2021USNCC Pilot Program Set to Launch January 2021
  • AFRL Demonstrates First Collaborative Weapon TechnologiesAFRL Demonstrates First Collaborative Weapon Technologies
  • DISA Director Touts Benefits of Cloud Computing, TeleworkDISA Director Touts Benefits of Cloud Computing, Telework
  • Defense Officials Detail National Guard Response to Capitol AttackDefense Officials Detail National Guard Response to…

Comments

Filed Under: Army, News, Personal

  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

Secretary Nominee Says Defense Resources Must Match Strategy

JANUARY 20, 2021 – Lloyd J. Austin III, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to be defense secretary, told the Senate Armed Services Committee today that Defense Department resources and strategy must match. “DOD needs resources to match strategy, a strategy matched to policy, and policy matched to the will of the American people,” he said. The […]

Answers to Top Questions About ACFT Equipment Fielding

OCTOBER 14, 2019 – As Army Soldiers start preparing for the new Army Combat Fitness Test, behind the scenes Army logisticians are also preparing to distribute more than 36,000 equipment sets to conduct the new test. At a recent Facebook Live event, watched by more than 150,000 viewers, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston […]

The Army Educational Benefit You Aren’t Using

JANUARY 12, 2021 – Nothing is free. Unless it’s actually free. With a few basic requirements and a common access card reader that’s exactly what the Army Credentialing Assistance program’s $4,000 per year is — free educational assistance for soldiers. National Guardsmen have the responsibility of not only progressing in their military career but also […]

Meritorious Advancement Program Updates for Navy Reserve Sailors

JANUARY 13, 2021 – Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF) has released ALNAVRESFOR 001/21, announcing the latest changes and improvements to the Navy Reserve’s Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP-R). The changes align MAP-R seasons with the Navy-wide advancement exam (NWAE) cycles, effectively doubling the advancement opportunity for Sailors and further supporting the intent of MAP-R to select […]

Navy Modernizes Tuition Assistance Debt Payments

JANUARY 4, 2021 – The Navy has modernized the way Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen can pay back tuition assistance (TA) debts beginning in January 2021. The new program provides service members with the option to pay their debt on a mobile device or computer using a debit card, electronic funds transfer (EFT) or via […]

Recent Posts

  • Secretary Nominee Says Defense Resources Must Match Strategy
  • SMA Praises National Guard’s Work Ahead of Inauguration
  • Air Force Unveils Next e-Plane
  • New App Simplifies Army Housing Repair Requests
  • Military Tax Services Available Through Military OneSource
MAINMENU




SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Contact | Feedback | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2021 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.



 
This is not the official recruiting website of the U.S. Military. The site you are on is run by Sun Key Publishing, a private company, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Military.