Army Wife Radio Is A Friend To Thousands

(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.


MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved

[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.

[WENDYKW]

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?