Myrtle Beach area families uneasy over drawdown

Of course, they want the troops home safely, the families say. But they say military officials aren’t considering the possible ramifications associated with the troops leaving.

"It makes me feel very uncomfortable that the entire world is being given news about the movements of thousands of American troops," said Norma Phillips, an Andrews resident whose son has served two tours of duty in Iraq. "We’re leaving our country vulnerable."

Phillips said the Iraqi people are not ready to take over security in the country’s largest cities. Her criticisms are echoed by Anne Parker, an organizer for the Blue Star Mothers in Horry County. Parker recently spoke with her daughter, who is stationed in Fallujah. The conversation left her upset.

"Any pullout of troops when you’ve got my child still there scares me," Parker said. "She’s not part of the group that’s going anywhere. They’re there for the duration."

The Associated Press reported an uptick of violence on the eve of the transfer.

Parker said she knows Iraq isn’t ready. Her son-in-law deals with communication in Iraq, and he says the transition isn’t all a go.

"All he told me over the weekend is that our government wants him to set up a communication system with the Iraqis to take over our communication system, and how hard it is for them to do that right now," she said.

Kris Tourtellotte, an organizer of the Welcome Back Veterans in Little River, deals with families of troops in Iraq every day. Most of them say the same thing: They want their children out of harm’s way.

"A vast majority would rather have it over," Tourtellotte, a Vietnam veteran, said. "I’m with them. Anything to get the troops out of harm’s way, I’m all for."

Susanne Pinsky, an Aynor resident, has seen her son Harold come back from Iraq twice. Her reaction both times has been the same.

"You always say, ‘Thank God, I’m so glad he’s home.’ That’s all you care about."