Mother's Day Wishes, and Tears, for Mom in Iraq

May 14, 2006 — -- Children of the soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan know the pain of war: They have to endure long stretches apart from their mothers or fathers, knowing all the while that their caretaker is in a dangerous place.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Melba L. Smith, an aviation operation chief and watch officer for Marine Wing Support Group 37 based in Al-Asad, Iraq, is in the middle of her second tour of duty. She has been away from her two sons, Nathan Worthen, 16, and Christopher Bass, 9, since January, and will return to the United States next January.

Smith's husband, Robert Smith, is also stationed in Al-Asad, so Nathan is living with his grandmother, Olivia Castillo, in Pharr, Texas, and Christopher with his maternal aunt, Marinela Calderon, in San Antonio. Melba Smith keeps in touch with her sons with a phone call each week.

Choked Up

Smith was able to speak to her sons, her mother and her sister via satellite on "Good Morning America." Tears began flowing after Christopher began to cry.

"How are you doing mom?" he said as he choked back tears.

"I'm doing OK," she said. "Don't cry baby. Dad's here, too. Don't cry sweetie. … He's proud of you, too. So you all keep on behaving and doing well until I get back."

Smith was also able to thank her mother for her support and wish her a Happy Mother's Day.

"She's the reason why I'm as strong as I am," Smith said. "I get a lot of my traits from her, and she has been instrumental in my career, to be able to do what I do. So, mom, I just want to thank you, momma, for everything you've done for me. And for taking care of my boys, I thank you."

Even the composed Nathan began to break down.

"It's always tough to be separated from family," he said. "I know that my brother's always going to be there for me. So is my mom and the rest of my family. So I'm really not hurt too much about it."

'He Wished War Had Never Been Invented'

Melba Smith said the hardest part about going to war was "when I left my younger son in San Antonio. He was very upset and told me he wished war had never been invented."

Until Nathan was 11 and Christopher was 3, they were raised by Smith alone, but the boys consider Robert Smith their father and say it is very difficult with both parents gone.

"I'm getting ready to get out of high school," said Nathan. "I have lots of stresses of school, and I'm worried about mom. I know they are in God's hands and they will be taken care of. I really know that."