He Served, We Served

Sheila Melvin is the mother of a United States Infantryman-Specialist Thomas Watkins. Tom was called to serve in Afghanistan. Needless to say, he saw terrible things: horrific explosions, loss of friends, and suicide bombers. He saw things most of us will never see, and he came home safe-but suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. It goes to show that war can follow you home ... Afghanistan is only a part of Tom and Sheila's lives. First, Tom was born; then, Tom grew up. It was over the course of his youthful years that Tom became the brave, young man who served his country overseas. Despite the distance, his mother was with him-in thought and via telephone and Internet. Sheila even started "Letters from Home," a website developed so that soldiers could have a way to communicate while deployed. War is hell, but being a mother separated from her child is even worse. Deployment not only takes a toll on the soldier; it takes a toll on the entire family. He Served, We Served is the story of one family's trials, but their story is for any enlisted soldier. Every soldier deserves to have his or her story told. Every soldier deserves our thanks and prayers. Every solder deserves to come home safe, healthy, and ready to live a life of love.