Mixed emotions for a Green Country family on the 3rd anniversary of the Iraqi war

A military mom and wife from Bartlesville looks back at America's past three years at war. Proud of her husband and son's service, she's followed the war since day one and wonders how many

Tuesday, March 21st 2006, 10:08 am

By: News On 6

A military mom and wife from Bartlesville looks back at America's past three years at war. Proud of her husband and son's service, she's followed the war since day one and wonders how many days are left.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day says it began with shock and awe. Three years later, the war in Iraq of course still makes headlines and at her home in Bartlesville, it's still on the top of Beth Craycraft's mind. "When it first started, I watched it all the time. I used to be hooked on soaps until the war started, then I quit watching them and watched the war."

Beth's husband David was deployed to Iraq a few years ago. Beth's son Steven is finishing up his tour of duty there. "You try to go on with everyday life you know, but when you have a son or a husband over there, it's very, very hard."

For three years, she's been glued to the news, listening for the details of every raid, bombing and explosion. Then hearing about the close calls from her son. "I don't know. I just cried a lot when he told me some of those stories."

For Beth Craycraft, the third anniversary of the war comes with mixed emotions. "The only thing it has for me is that my husband's retired and my son's almost through with it, but I heard they're sending some more over there and I wonder when it's ever going to come to an end."

Steven should be back in May. Back in Bartlesville, he'll find an American flag, and a proud mother, ready to welcome her soldier son home.

Beth Craycraft says the days of worrying about her son Steven won't end anytime soon. Just after he gets home, he plans to leave for Los Angeles to train to join the LAPD SWAT team.