Adults admire the sacrifices of our nation’s fighting forces. But it’s the kids of those doing the fighting who have given up maybe even more: parentless childhoods. You’re reading about these kids today for a few moments. But what they’re enduring lasts for years. The Army’s Fort Drum Mountaineer newspaper interviewed several of them in its latest issue:
[As the oldest], I have to clean around the house and help take care of my brothers and sisters, so I can’t go out and do lots of things with friends…It makes me worry and wonder. It makes me wish he was back home, and I just hope he doesn’t get hurt…I’m just really proud of my Dad for being the military and serving our country.
— Rebecca Crist, 14, whose father is in Afghanistan
I feel like I am another parent a lot of the time because my mom is so busy…I don’t think he likes to [talk about what goes on in Afghanistan], but he started a little goat farm. I always ask him how his goats are doing…I like the military because it teaches Families how to be stronger and not have to rely on one person so much.
— Ruth Mintz, 14
I have to help her out with everything, especially electronics.
— Jonathan Patton, 10, on the challenges of helping Mom with Dad in Afghanistan