The Day My Brother went to Iraq
By: John Derosse
5th Grade, PS 254, Brooklyn, NY
One day my older brother Jimmy came home for the week to see the family. He told us he signed up to be a solider in the Army. So, I asked my dad “don't soldiers sometimes go to war”? He responded "yes,” in which I questioned, “does that mean that Jimmy's going to fight in the war”? My Father replied "no” because he did not want me to worry.
So after staying with us for a 
week, my brother got a call telling him he's going to be sent to Iraq. When I heard this I got scared. Jimmy asked my dad if we can drive him to the base-- which we did. On the way there I was very worried. When we got there he told me he was going to Iraq. When those words came out I froze and began crying. I was so sad, me, my mom and dad and brother were then all crying. I could not stop crying because my brother was always very good to me--he always had my back. He was a person I can talk and tell my secrets to.
week, my brother got a call telling him he's going to be sent to Iraq. When I heard this I got scared. Jimmy asked my dad if we can drive him to the base-- which we did. On the way there I was very worried. When we got there he told me he was going to Iraq. When those words came out I froze and began crying. I was so sad, me, my mom and dad and brother were then all crying. I could not stop crying because my brother was always very good to me--he always had my back. He was a person I can talk and tell my secrets to.When he picked me up I felt like our hearts combined, therefore it was very hard to let him go. He and I then took a walk around the army trucks, but I was still crying. To comfort me, my brother said, "don't worry, I will be home soon." These were the last words he said to me before we left him at the base and headed home.
When I got home I prayed and prayed “please bring my brother home soon.” As I went to my room my heart felt like it was going to explode. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, I just wanted to close my eyes like this was a dream to be awaken from.
About a year passed and one day my brother showed up and surprised me with a present. I said, “your back!” I felt like an angel being with my brother. We did lots of stuff together. He took me to the park and to the stores--he even got me some wrestlers autographs. My brother stayed with us for three weeks before he returned to his home in Pennsylvania. I will never forgot the special time we spent together after he came back from Iraq.
