Parents of Oklahoma's Finest Support President's Troop Surge Plans

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A $1.1 trillion spending bill that will fund the federal government is headed to President Obama's desk, but his focus is on the war in Afghanistan.

He told CBS's 60 minutes the troop surge is the toughest decision he's made as president.

"When you go to Walter Reed and you travel to Dover and you visit Arlington and you see the sacrifices that young men and women and their families are making there is nothing more profound. And, it is a solemn obligation on the part of me as Commander and Chief to get those decisions right," said President Obama.

The president said if the plan is not working by the end of next year, he and the military leaders will re-evaluate.

And parents with children in Afghanistan are weighing in on the president's war plans. They explained why they are in favor of any decision that will bring their children and the rest Oklahoma's finest home safely sooner than later.

Besides being sisters, Faye Chambers and Sheila Stephens share another bond. Their children are in the middle of their first-tour of duty in Afghanistan. Chambers' daughter, 37-year-old Rebecca Corey, is an Air Force Tech Sergeant. Stephens' son, 23-year-old Douglas Lake, serves in the 82nd Airborne.

"Scary and a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of worry, but as she says ‘It is what it is,'" said Chambers.

Sheila Stephens said it's tough because it's her son's first tour of duty in the Middle East and he's her baby.

Both mothers said they support Obama's decision to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, as well as his timetable for pulling out of the area.

"They probably need the extra troops over there to get things calmed down so the Afghan people can go back to normal," Stephens said.

"I hope it ends things early and keeps the troops over there maybe safer," Chambers said.

Like the rest of the country, the mothers will be paying close attention to how this new strategy plays out over the next year and a half. But both mothers are so proud of their children and all the troops overseas.

Their parents say Rebecca Corey is scheduled to return from Afghanistan in May and Douglas Lake will be back next August.