Ban Advocates Blog

Lynn, based on an interview in Geneva, 3 November 2008

My name is Lynn Bradach. It was just eight years ago that I was a working mother in the US. I had no concept of war, of it weapons and what the true impact of war could have on a family. Many of us in the US are that way.

In 2000 my oldest son Travis joined the US Marines. Once again I did not understand why but it was his choice. The world in my view was safe and beautiful and I agreed that he was in need of some discipline in his life. In 2001 the world began to explode on me. For the first time I felt the worries of war but they were still very distant. After awhile the truth emerged about the attack on the towers and I believed with all my heart that US would not go to war

The year 2003 brought about the destruction to my perfect world and my first steps on this journey. My son Cpl John Bradach-Nall was sent to war. I now had full knowledge of what a parent feels for their child in a situation that you can not control, you can not fully understand and you do not know how to keep your child safe. My son was a trained Marine not an innocent little child caught in the cross fire and still like any mother I was heart sick with fear.

The war was declared over and I believe that Travis would be coming home. I didn’t even give a second thought to what had been left behind. Now looking back how very thoughtless and selfish of me. That safe return was not to be. My brave son called to say that he had volunteer to stay on with a group of his buddies to clear bombs and other unexploded ordinances. He said “Momma you are safe. Nothing can happen to you. I need to be here to take care of my buddies. I need to make sure they all come home.” On July 2, 2003 I was informed that Travis was killed by an explosive device and with his death that Lynn Bradach of the perfect innocent world also died.