I know they’ve been setting up Exchanges, because my b-in-law works for AAFES and he and his fellow employees have been approached about volunteering for duty over there.  So far he’s exhibited no interest that I’m aware of, and his wife and kids wouldn’t let him do it anyway.

Geez, and I thought my uncle was a bit on the high side to be deployed. 

WP - Soldier Uncle Tony

My uncle was part of a National Guard mandatory deployment.  He was 58 at the time of deployment. 
And was originally scheduled to be on active duty in Iraq until age 60. 

But he is home safe now, off active duty for almost a month maybe now, due to a minor health problem which prompted advice for further testing & such - but was considered to have developed (or perhaps exacerbated) by the climate & such. 

He spent about 3+ months in Iraq, I believe, and about 3 months altogether of active duty state side.
My uncle’s minor health issue case (which was more a “suspicion” of possible other problems), prompts me to believe that the military medical people are fairly trustworthy when it comes to older soldiers serving in Iraq. 

They seemed to think the situation more serious than he did.  But then, he spent some time among injured soldiers, so comparatively, I believe he felt fine & dandy, and very lucky, so that may have coloured his perspective.
And of course, my whole family was pretty much aghast that they were sending him at all.

Out of 11 older, higher-ranking, soldiers in his unit, 9 were ruled out for various medical reasons including, from what I recall hearing (second-hand of course), a bad knee, bee sting allergy, and diabetes.

My uncle was not the only older soldier I saw and talked to at his send-off ceremony here at the local armory (which included at least 3 units, perhaps more), there were several.  And I saw a few more, too, at a family day at one army base he was at.

Anyway, the thing is, it says this 73 year old woman is a “military wife”.  What does that mean?

Wow. I can well imagine that your family was aghast at your uncle being called up, Chloe. I am so glad that he is home safe and sound now.

I know there is a great deal to be said in favor of experience and wisdom, but being unexpectedly deployed in one’s late 50s has to be rather a shock to the system.

With regard to the Grandma...I believe she was married to a career military man and, therefore, was a ‘military wife’. She would have been as married to the military as to her husband. She stayed home with the kids all those years and now she wants to go do the interesting military stuff. I wish her well and I hope that she stays safe.