‘A Soldier’s Wife’: Readers are moved by family’s struggles
“A Soldier’s Wife” in Sunday’s Times, the story of an Iraq war veteran’s struggles, moved readers with its stark narrative by Christopher Goffard and photography by Rick Loomis.
The story, which Goffard and Loomis spent a year and a half chronicling, followed the plight of Candace Desmond-Woods, an Irvine woman fighting to hold her family together as her husband, Tom, battles post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism.
Dozens of readers took the time to email The Times in response to the story.
Some of them said the intensely personal story gave them new insight into the challenges faced by veterans:
Tim Miller: In the age of reality television and the all-volunteer Army, it is too easy for many of us in America to view the brave men and women who fight our wars as just another chorus of manufactured characters, compelling only until we change the channel. Your piece managed to put a real human face on the tragic struggle so many veterans face with their families, and to remind the reader of the depth and breadth of the scars that war leaves on us as a nation.
Frances Lee Wong of Rancho Palos Verdes: I enjoyed the article and accompanying photos enormously. The writing was superb! It illuminated for me the plight of returning vets and their families. Many of us have read about the traumas and stresses these solders suffered, but your article expressed it in such a way that was personal, as if it’s happening to someone in our own family.
Other readers found the Woods’ story timely, as the U.S. considers military involvement in Syria:
Dennis Antenucci of Fresno: I hope those who support sending our men and women into harm’s way will remember first the cost in both blood and treasure of our troops and their families long after they return home.
Raul Dominguez of Torrance: I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the great article on the Woods family. I can’t imagine a more perfect time for this article as the American people consider military action in Syria. So few Americans have any “skin in the game” of these foreign policy decisions. Our media spend way too much time on the political scoreboard and way too little time on the aftermath of intervention. Whether it is the right thing to do, we must know the consequences for our military and their families.
Jane A. Hyde: Thank you for your very timely article. My heart goes out to all the military families. I believe we need to take better care of these soldiers rather than go off into another senseless military action. I am emailing all my friends to read your article and contact their representatives in Washington.
The storytelling was the draw for other readers:
Cynthia Michel: The details of the story were unbearable to read. Had it not been for the exceptional quality of the reporting, I would never have been able to finish this piece. An important story, impeccably told.
J. Rupert Thompson: What a beautifully written and photographed, incredibly heart-wrenching story you delivered for Sunday’s paper. Normally, I shy away from longer articles like this, but the photograph on the front page caught my attention enough to read the copy, which hit me emotionally like a sledgehammer and instantly told me this was a story not to ignore.
And many hoped for a follow-up on the family:
Jacque Huth: Thank you for the excellent piece of journalism. The wars’ cost can’t be measured since so many lives have been dreadfully affected by invisible wounds. I wonder where that family will be a year from now.
Sheri Fisher of San Diego: Your story … was absolutely heartbreaking, and I wondered if there will be a follow-up. I would love to know how it all turned out. I wish this couple the best of luck.
Tom Gitchoff: Great job on “A Soldier’s Wife” feature. I hope you ... do a follow-up, and I pray for a happy ending.
