Should military families worry after war plans group chat? Two Lincoln veterans weigh in

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After the accidental leak of war plans to The Atlantic, the weight of uncertainty grows even more for military families.

Having a family member serve overseas is not easy.

Being in an unfamiliar area with limited communication can take a toll on both the soldier and their home life.

Mike Kunce, who served in the Army, said right now, it’s very understandable for families to have a lot of emotions.

“I think right now is one of those times where there’s a lot of confusion, anxiety, frustration and just overall worry going on for military, for veterans, for families,” he said. “The best we can hope for is that the elected officials make the right decisions.”

Kunce said the group chat discussions are taking away from what really matters.

“I just hope soldiers know that everyone is still very proud of them,” he said. “Everybody is still remembering them. It seems like a lot of the attention has been moved from the soldiers and the people overseas to the politicians that are talking about them. I want all the soldiers, airmen, Marines, everybody to know that we are still very, very proud and we are all supporting them.”

Jason Burkholder, who served in Iraq, said veterans are always there to lend a helping hand to soldiers and their families.

“You have more than just your families here for you, with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion,” he said. “We’re all veterans fighting for veterans. We’re always looking out for them, trying to help them and their families. And never feel afraid to reach out.”