Nischelle_Turner's Blog

Hey there everyone....

So I usually post blogs about sports, entertainment or something light hearted..well here is something weighing pretty heavy on my heart. I knew this day would come because there are several people who are close to me that are reservists in the Armed Forces and I knew one or more of them would be called to serve. It has now happened. One of my good friends, Patrick Evans, is headed for Baghdad. Patrick is also a member of the media...pretty ironic. He is the weekend anchor at my old station in New Orleans. WVUE FOX8. It is the job I passed up to come to Los Angeles. Anyway, Patrick is leaving New Orleans and FOX at the end of the month and is expected to be in Baghdad for about a year. He will most likely be handling PR but in times of war you just never know.

My colleague (and work husband) Bob DeCastro is going through this too although on a much more personal level as his brother is headed off to war. Bob comes fro a military family but it doesn't lessen the blow. By the way, I asked him if I cold talk about this before and he said yes.

So this is bringing up all sorts of emotions for me. To be honest, I have been torn on this issue of the War on Terror. I think I am like most Americans...after 9-11 I supported the President and this Administration in the War in Afghanistan but i just wasn't sold on the War in Iraq and over the years I, like many others, have become weary of this. But you want to support the troops and the reality is that we are there now...

And, above all, I support my friend in his endeavor. Patrick is scared but at the same time he is anxious he says. He also realizes that when he signed up for the Navy, ther ewas always this possibility. Now it's here. It's true what they say, I have always felt for the families who have loved ones in the war, but now that I can put a face on it it seems much more real to me.

Anyway, my friend Patrick wants to keep contact with anyone and everyone he can while in Baghdad so he asked me to pass along his information. He will blog at talktopatrick.blogspot.com. My former station in New Orleans will also be publishing e-mails and talking to him when they can. You can follow that at fox8live.com. I think it will also be interesting to see how a member of the media goes from covering the war to being an active participant in it.

What do you think?