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I came across this while reading the news.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/08/07/edm-afghan-homecoming.html
Homecoming not that easy for Afghan vets
Last Updated: Monday, August 7, 2006 | 10:14 AM MT
CBC News
Some Canadian soldiers are readjusting to life in a peaceful country after serving a stint in Afghanistan — and finding it's not that easy to do.
About 100 soldiers who served in the wartorn country came home to Edmonton over the weekend.
It was an emotional reunion for many families who hadn't seen their loved ones for upwards of six months. They arrived as five Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, with more than a dozen injured in the last week.
"Hard for the most part," said Joe Rustenburg of the homecoming.
"Because a lot [of] the guys who died were good friends of mine and there's nothing you can do to prepare for losing friends, especially five or six, it's hard to deal with.
"Like I just tell myself, there's not much I could have done to prevent it. It bothers me that I'm home with my wife and there's some wives that don't have their husbands."
Rustenburg says he understands casualties are part of the job and he's happy to be home.
Rustenburg was sipping a Tim Hortons coffee in a mall in Edmonton Saturday. It was one of few reminders of home he had while serving in Afghanistan.
But he says sipping coffee at mall in Edmonton isn't easy to get used to doing.
" try to take it all in, in little pieces at a time, 'cause it is a lot to get used to again. Walking around without a weapon is one major thing," he said.
For his wife Melanie, who he married a month before he left for Afghanistan, it's an adjustment too, but one she's looking forward to.
"If he wants to talk, he'll talk and I'll let him," she said. "I just can't wait to be a wife again, cooking and picking up after him. I miss that a lot."
Rustenburg says it hasn't been an easy six months without her husband.
But she says everything is better now — Joe's home, and she's convinced him to take their long-awaited honeymoon in Maui.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/08/07/edm-afghan-homecoming.html
Homecoming not that easy for Afghan vets
Last Updated: Monday, August 7, 2006 | 10:14 AM MT
CBC News
Some Canadian soldiers are readjusting to life in a peaceful country after serving a stint in Afghanistan — and finding it's not that easy to do.
About 100 soldiers who served in the wartorn country came home to Edmonton over the weekend.
It was an emotional reunion for many families who hadn't seen their loved ones for upwards of six months. They arrived as five Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, with more than a dozen injured in the last week.
"Hard for the most part," said Joe Rustenburg of the homecoming.
"Because a lot [of] the guys who died were good friends of mine and there's nothing you can do to prepare for losing friends, especially five or six, it's hard to deal with.
"Like I just tell myself, there's not much I could have done to prevent it. It bothers me that I'm home with my wife and there's some wives that don't have their husbands."
Rustenburg says he understands casualties are part of the job and he's happy to be home.
Rustenburg was sipping a Tim Hortons coffee in a mall in Edmonton Saturday. It was one of few reminders of home he had while serving in Afghanistan.
But he says sipping coffee at mall in Edmonton isn't easy to get used to doing.
" try to take it all in, in little pieces at a time, 'cause it is a lot to get used to again. Walking around without a weapon is one major thing," he said.
For his wife Melanie, who he married a month before he left for Afghanistan, it's an adjustment too, but one she's looking forward to.
"If he wants to talk, he'll talk and I'll let him," she said. "I just can't wait to be a wife again, cooking and picking up after him. I miss that a lot."
Rustenburg says it hasn't been an easy six months without her husband.
But she says everything is better now — Joe's home, and she's convinced him to take their long-awaited honeymoon in Maui.