About the Sons and Daughters of War

Dear Friends and Family:

I am writing to say Farewell for awhile.

Throughout the summer I began to be more frequently placed on orders to debrief soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and broker resources to them in my role as a Captain in the Army Medical Corp. The above picture with Hannah and Grace was taken during one of those weekend debriefings.

My next Army mission is one to where my children cannot follow.

I have recently been placed on Active Duty as a Captain in the United States Army, mobilizing for 400 days starting July 1 to ultimately go to Iraq after first training for a few months at our Mobilization Station in Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin. I will be attached to the 785th Combat Stress Control Company based out of Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. Ours is a mental health mission, where Army Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Chaplains, and Clinical Social Workers work collaboratively to holistically address the daunting stressors facing the soldiers in theater. We respond preventatively, educating troops in large groups on managing anger and stress, coping with depression and loneliness, trying to resolve marital relationship problems, handling redeployment issues, learning techniques to sleep better, etc.

We also serve in an individual counseling capacity in two "restoration stations", which ideally serve, as their title indicates, to restore soldiers who are experiencing post traumatic shock, suicidal ideation, or homicidal tendencies.

My wife Miranda, and daughters Hannah and Grace are holding up as well as they possibly can. We have arranged as best of a system we can of communicating via webcam while I am gone, exchanging small surprises and craft projects we work on from afar, and some neat ideas gathered from Army Family Readiness, like pre-recorded bedtime stories and a jar of hershey kisses which allow my daughters to count down the next time they see Daddy via a "kiss a day". :) My wife a strong and beautiful woman... for the first time she drove a 1300 mile round trip to Michigan this weekend without me all by herself. I Love and Admire her.

This blog exists to tell the story of the soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.. the Sons and Daughters of Veterans of Wars Past.. and the Sons and Daughters of recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. It will tell of their highest hopes, and it will tell of their deepest hurts. The stories of these men and women must be told.

I am the son of PFC Alan Atkins, Combat Medic having served the Army Medical Corp. during our nation's conflict with Vietnam (1968-1970). I am CPT Christopher Atkins, Army Social Worker in the Army Medical Service Corp now training to serve in our nation's Operation in Iraq. Vaya Con Dios. I go with God . I will share and embrace His Peace during a time when people need it the most.