An Air Force Senior Airman, Emerald Ralston, writes a moving commentary that begins with her deployment to Afghanistan.

After a couple of weeks, I was preparing to convoy to an even more remote area for the next five months.

Before we left, I made the usual call home. I’d ask my parents to pray for me before I went on convoys so they knew what I was up to and, God forbid, in case anything happened, they would be prepared.

This particular time, I didn’t get the “Okay, Honey, be safe,” I was used to.

She learns that her brother, US Army Sgt Ian Ralston, had been wounded in Iraq.

Her story is worth the read.