Army Wife Radio Is A Friend To Thousands

Tara Crooks Provides An Outlet For Wives Left Behind As Husbands Go To War

(CBS)  As Fort Stewart's soldiers re-deploy to Iraq, the wives left behind look for support wherever they can find it, CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports.

It's all on them now: the kids, the house — a full year's worth of worry. Tara Crooks knows firsthand how they feel.

"You're listening to Army Wife talk radio, the Internet's talk radio program for and by Army wives. My name is Tara Crooks, and I'm your host," she says on her program.

Crooks just talks, one Army wife to another.

"I know you guys are in the same shoes I'm in," she says on the radio.

To her Internet audience, thousands of Army wives, Crooks is both a friend and an adviser. She's part Oprah, part Dear Abby.

She talks about relationships, parenting problems and navigating the military system. Crooks knows all about it: Once again, she's been left behind, too.

Capt. Kevin Crooks, Tara's husband, headed back to Iraq last month. Their 5-year-old, Wrena, will go another year without Daddy.

"Everyone says 'Oh, this is your third deployment. You should be used to this.' You never get used to this, and every deployment gets harder," Tara explains.

Deployment is a shared sacrifice. Spouses are left behind with their loneliness and fears — knowing they'll have to go it alone with every family drama.

Crooks herself is pregnant, due in August. And she's scared.

"I love the Army. I love what we do. But that doesn't mean I have to love that my husband is gone," she says.

She's used to giving advice. Now Crooks is the one looking for it.

"Now I'm asking, 'hey you got to help me out,'" she says on radio.

[armywifetalk]

WOW! I am honored at the wonderful compliments. My purpose in this endeavor was never to be political or fight with anyone over politics. My purpose is to support my soldier (and our family) and to empower and motivate other Army wives to make the best of the lifestyle that their families have chosen.

Personally, my beliefs on this war are just that, mine. What I will say is that those who do not support the war but say the support the troops and then in the same sentence bash what I am doing to empower and educate miltiary families make no sense whatsoever. If that applies to you, then you know who you are.

I personally wouldn't even waste my positive breath arguing with someone who doesn't understand what he is talking about anyway. :)

Thank you so much to everyone for the wonderous outpouring of encouragement. We will continue to "truck on" at Army Wife Talk Radio and Field Problems - changing one life at a time!

Thank you for your support!

Tara Crooks
Army Wife Talk Radio

[justme2too-2009]

No matter what your opinion of the war, the point of this piece is that the wives left behind need support. Tara's Internet radio show is reaching out to help provide it.

Why not show some support to the families instead of taking every possible opportunity to argue your agenda and argue with each other?

Wendy... I'm not sure what the rules are for posting links or URLs so I won't post it here. But if you do an Internet search for the name of the show or the name of the host, you'll find it right away. :)


Tara, keep up the great work!

--Linda... not a military wife, but sympathetic to your issues and thankful to your husbands!

[bhappy2-2]

How many Iraqi children must die for you to feel safe?
Posted by feelfree1 at 12:27 AM : Feb 10, 2007

All of them that want to kill Americans.

[kellybolson]

Hello All,

just supporting army wifes...be strong for yourself and your family. keep your head up high and don't let anyone knock you down. Your Soldier will be home soon!!!








Remember To Be Strong!

3ID SPOUSES

[feelfree1]

WENDY619,

Re: "WOW I ALLWAY WANT DO SAMETHING LIKE BUT I JUST DID KNOW HOW GO ABOUT"

I would suggest that a writing class would be a good place to start.

WOW I ALLWAY WANT DO SAMETHING LIKE BUT I JUST DID KNOW HOW GO ABOUT CAN U PLEASE TELL ME WERE I HEAR YOUR SHOW I LOVE HEAR IT IF YOU NEED SOME HELP I LOVE JOYIN YOUR TEAM KEEP IN TUCH GOOD LUCK JUST INSITE ABOUT ME I WORK WITH BUNCH NICE MEN I MEET LOL I WORK AT MCRD RECT DEPO HERE IN
SAN DIEGO CALIF

SEMPER FIDELLS
WENDY

[e-mail]
9 FEB 07 *Y* 9:30PM

[feelfree1]

Sacrificing innocent people to fight "them" "over there" so we won't have to fight "them" "over here" is the most cowardly argument that I have heard yet to justify this disgraceful nonsense.

Risking the lives and safety of others, just to ensure your own comfort and safety, is pretty despicable, in my opinion. How many Iraqi children must die for you to feel safe?

It is also utterly ridiculous to think that the Iraqis could possibly overwhelm us with a land invasion.

[feelfree1]

bhappy2-2,

Re: "Will you still think it is an illegal war when we have to fight it on AMERICAN soil?"

Of course not. It is always perfectly legal to defend yourself against an aggressive invader.

This is ecactly what the Iraqi people are doing, and they have every right to defend themselves.

Re: "I have to wonder, how long the rest of us will be able to feelfree?"

This is really up to you.

[bhappy2-2]

RANGER75TH1,
Fight the good fight. I have to leave now. I have enjoyed it.

[bhappy2-2]

feelfree1- Will you still think it is an illegal war when we have to fight it on AMERICAN soil? Can we count on you to help us, or will you help them?
With you around I have to wonder, how long the rest of us will be able to feelfree?

[feelfree1]

RANGER75TH1,

Re: "this is not support that you are giving this is cowardice"

There is nothing at all brave about mindlessly following illegal orders to participate in an illegal war. True courage is demonstrated by following your own conscience, regardless of the consequences.

[feelfree1]

Re: "if it were not for the men and women who served long before me..."

You are welcome.

[ranger75th1]

feelfree1:
cComing from you that is a very serious compliment. Thanks.

[ranger75th1]

You are nothing but uneducated. This war is far from illegal! And by the way, if it were not for the men and women who served long before me and will serve long after me, you would not have a tongue on which you could speak such moronic junk. You say you support our troops, this is not support that you are giving this is cowardice and you are nothing more than a traitor!

[feelfree1]

bhappy2-2,

Re: "If you feel MY nation is such a disgrace WHY are you still here?"

Someone has to clean up your mess and take out the trash. Why would I surrender my country to an ignorant fool?

Don't look now, but it is the Bush backing dead-enders whose welcome is rapidly running out.

[bhappy2-2]

feelfree1- You said "Their efforts in Iraq only serve to deepen the disgrace of our nation, and to legitimize the megalomaniacal crusade of the illegitimate Bush regime."
If you feel MY nation is such a disgrace WHY are you still here? THIS IS AMERICA! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT! I will give you a ride to the airport if you need one. Just make sure you get a one-way ticket. I may even be able to arrange a discount just for you, if you promise to NEVER RETURN.

[feelfree1]

bhappy2-2,

Re: "Their efforts help support YOUR RIGHT to spew your trash in this forum"

You are mistaken. These troops are being used to support the profits of Exxon-Mobile, Bechtel, the Carlyle Group, Blackwater mercenaries, and other war profiteers. Nothing that they are doing in the illegal war of aggression against Iraq does anything to support my right to free speech.

Their efforts in Iraq only serve to deepen the disgrace of our nation, and to legitimize the megalomaniacal crusade of the illegitimate Bush regime.

I do support these troops. Afterall, they are also victims of the Bush regime. I support their returning to the U.S. alive, unmaimed, and without the life long disgrace of participating in an illegal war of aggression; one which has become a resounding military, economic, and moral defeat for our country.

Their sworn oath is ultimately to the U.S. Constitution, and the best way that they can honor this oath is by refusing to participate in this illegal and disgraceful war.

If rooting for their needless and pointless disgrace, maiming, and death is your way of supporting them, then I think that I will prefer my method.

[ranger75th1]

feelfree1: As a former member of the United States Army, and a veteran of Somalia, I am proud of my fellow soldiers and all who have or are serving. Your comments and those that you have called the "True American Hereos," are nothing more than cowardice and deserve nothing more than the death penalty. Maybe not today, but at some point you will have to answer to your ignorance and I hope it is to a member of the Armed Forces. I quarantee you are the type that will turn tail and run under the skirt of your mother!!!

[bhappy2-2]

feelfree1- What I said was "You are an insufferable idiot who only wants to make others miserable." I didn't say I was miserable. As for your comment; "There is nothing decent about supporting an illegal and immoral war of aggression- one that has resulted in the pointles slaughter of more than a half-million innocent people." Well, I never said I support an illegal war. But I DO support our troops.
They are fighting because they have been ordered to fight. Their efforts help support YOUR RIGHT to spew your trash in this forum, just as they support mine to tell you when you are being an idiot. Without them YOUR right to free speech would be as useless as the trash you spew every time you get on this forum. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!! GOOD NIGHT NOW!

[feelfree1]

bhappy2-2,

Re: "Why don't you crawl back under your rock and leave decent people alone?"

There is nothing decent about supporting an illegal and immoral war of aggression- one that has resulted in the pointles slaughter of more than a half-million innocent people.

There is no honor in participating in this shameful act. If you are feeling miserable, it is probably your own conscience that is to blame.