The Life Of An Army Wife

[Leo Wyatt]

My husband Charlie joined the army in August of 1995. He first went to boot camp in Fort Knox Kentucky for eight weeks. My oldest son and only child at the time, had to stay with my parents , while Charlie was in boot camp.

It was very lonely for those few months. My parents was always on my back while he was gone. Charlie's mom didn't want nothing to do with me or Allen at the time. Charlie's dad only came got us one time during his time in boot camp and that was to take us to his graduation.

After boot camp, We would still be seperated cause he had to go to Aberdeen Maryland for IAT, school, to learn how to be a tank mechanic.
That was longer than boot camp. It was til June of 96.
During IAT, My mom had to go into surgery. Her vein in her neck was clogged up.

I was left alone cause I couldn't take my son with me. So my dad kept me updated. She pulled through.

But, I was really lonely. He called me any other month. I really missed him. He did got to come home for Christmas but it was short. Then, he had to leave again. Finally, in June of 96, he came got us and took us to Germany with him.

In Oct.96 I found out I was pregnant with my second son. Then Charlie got orders to go to Bosnia. We lived on the German economy but since I was high risk pregnant, the army moved us to Wurzburg on the army base. Then Charlie left to go to Bosnia.

I didn't like Germany. It was cold all the time. When I was 3 months pregnant, I caught the chicken pox and so did Allen. Due to me being pregnant and having chicken pox, they wanted to send me back to the states. So, my dad paid a thousand dollars to send me and Allen back to South Carolina.

I stayed there til I was 7 months pregnant, then Charlie came back from Bosnia. He sent for me. He waited at the Franfurt Airport in Germany.

When I was eight months pregnant, I went into labor 4 times. The 4th time they had to take David by c-section. During the operation, we both was in trouble. I told dr. don't save me, save my baby. Of course she had to go by my wishes, But we both got through it. David, had an reaction to the antisetic (I didn't spell that right sorry). They had to revive him.

Glad they did. I didn't get to see my son til that following morning at 3 am to feed him. I didn't breast feed. Formula is just as good.

He had a head full of red hair. But it changed when he was 4 months thank God. He was a good baby.

When he was 2 months he was diagnose as asthmic. And at 6 months he was loosing weight for some reason. We feed him like good parents. But there was something else wrong . He stayed in the hospital til 7 months and then they sent me and David to John Hopkins university. We stayed there til he was 9 months old. they found out about it was matabolism .

So he was on pediasure. So Charlie got stationed at Aberdeen Maryland.
We stayed there from 98 to 2000. 99 I had my daughter Anna.

Charlie took a break from the army in 2000 and got out. We went back to SC. He worked for this rental place. Til Sept 11 th 2001 when the terrorist attack on NY. He said , I am going back into the army.

We got stationed at Fort Stewart Georgia. Jan 2003 he was sent to Iraq an
actually fought in the war. I thought I was going to go nuts.
He came back July 2003. and then 2005 he went back. Now he is on his way back for good due to tumor behind his left optical nerve.

I enjoy the army life. Free medical care and good education for my kids. I don't like the loneliness but I know he is doing this for a good cause.

Charlie is my hero.

[nadia]

I love hearing life sotries! Deb, its really good!

[Leo Wyatt]

Thanks. I will tell about my child hood later on today.

[nadia]

Oh great! Cool ok

[Leo Wyatt]

My Childhood


I was born Debra Lynn Gillespie on March, 6th 1975. In a small town called Clinton South Carolina. I am the youngest of three girls. I weighed in at 5 lbs. My mom went through 36 hours of labor with me. They said she was mean while having me.
My Aunt Carol was first to see me. When she saw me, she omg! She said I was the spitting image of my daddy. My dad finally got to see me. He was in tears cause I was his only child. My sisters was only his step daughters, which he loved them too.

They all was happy. My grandpa Claude said I got my redhair from him. He died when I was a year old. I never got to know him but through pictures.
When I was one years old, my parents bought a house in Laurens, South Carolina. While they was talking to the real estate person, they told my sisters to watch me. But, they did not. I started running up the road in the middle of it. It was a hill too.
My dad saw me and he ran to get me. My mom gave my sisters spankings for not watching me.

As growing up, my sisters was mean to me. When I was five years old, they was giving me a bath while my parents was at work. They tried to kill me by drowning me. The next door neighbor heard the commotion and came over. He got them up and got me. He had to revive me.

He took me over his house til my parents got home. My mom tore my sisters up. Now, my parents had to get my Aunt Olgie to watch me. Which I loved that.
Well my sisters would also tie me in a chair, through ketchup, mustard and eggs on me. They would lock me out of the house too.

My life was miserable when I was a little girl. During school years, I was picked on, beat up on and just teased. I was pretty much lonely child. I had only one friend. Til high school.

In high school, I got tired of being teased and beat up on so I fought back. They never picked on me after that.

When I was 16, I was raped by my ex-boyfriend. School and police would not do anything. So I quit high school in the 10th grade.
When I was 17, My Aunt Judy introduce me to Charlie. We dated for 2 months. And one day, he took me into my room and bow down on one knee. he asked me to marry him.
At first I thought he was joking. So I asked '' Are you joking?'' He said '' No. I said yes and he went to talk to my dad. He was 21 at the time. My dad said ok. My dad would not have let me got married if Charlie was a bad man.

At age 18 I had Allen my oldest child. Oct. 3rd 1993. And guess you know pretty much after that what went on in my first post.

[nadia]

Aww Deb, i started crying! You had such a terrible time!But Iam so glad that your ok! I love you Deb your a great person! Good Work!!

[Leo Wyatt]

Thanks. Life is good now. I am inlove with an amazing man. He loves me so much. I can tell when I look into his hazel eyes.

[nadia]

Thats good!!

[Birdy]

Kewl Deb. I love the story. Of course not what happened to you, but how you wrote it down, really amazing. So great.
Btw, you say in your first post; "I enjoy the army life. Free medical care and good education for my kids. "
Is that because Charlie is in the army, that you get free medical care and you kids get to go to school for free? Till what grade? I didn't know that was the deal in America.

[Leo Wyatt]

school is free til they reach college. then have to fork out money. I Love America and proud to be an American. Charlie is proud to serve in the army which noone appreciates it.

( got any negative stuff please don't post unless it is positive. My life is true and lot of good and bad memories. I am easily hurt. I am not saying you can not have an opinion. But this is not an debate.) Want a debate go to WN.

[Leo Wyatt]

Please lock this. It was an bad idea.

[Birdy]

^ why??? I love it. Now some people can see how your life really is!!!

[Leo Wyatt]

Ok, I keep it open for now. Don't lock it.

[Birdy]

Good. I like it. People should know how it is to live with a husband that's in the army, right?

[Leo Wyatt]

Yeah. Sometimes it is a hard life but I love it. I love my Charlie

[nadia]

Put up more of your stories DeB!

[Leo Wyatt]

I will in the morning. I am tired now. Those memories is all I can remember right now. Oh wait a minute. I will tell you about the time Charlie and I were engaged and we went to Carolowinds. That be in the morning ok.

[nadia]

Okay

[Leo Wyatt]

May of 92. Charlie and I decided to go to Carolwinds in South Carolina.
It was a 3 hour trip and very tiresome. By time we got there, the place was packed full of people.

We bought the ticket and went in. We looked around and decided we go on this rollercoaster that you stand up but strapped in real good. It went up side down. Boy, did I scream like something crazy. After that ride, I got him on the boat that rocks and then turn upside down. He didn't like that one.

We went on the water rides and all the other rides. It was awesome. Well it was time to head back. So we drove back. As we got only an hour away, he got little sleepy and hit the concrete side and blew out his truck tire. So we had to wait on the emergency lane on the highway. An hour past no state patrol. Second hour into waiting, finally a state patrol came and helped us out.

He called in a tow truck and the toll truck took us home. We learned buy a cell phone if something like this ever happens again.

We had fun though.

But lately as of 2005 , we been going to six flags. When he was on leave the first time. I loved Six Flags better.

[Leo Wyatt]

I may ask to lock this later but not right now. If you want to know more I got a few more memories.

[Leo Wyatt]

(Update: I will tell everybody about our trip on this 4th of July on Wednesday when I arrive back. I will have some fun and interesting stuff to share with you all.)