Sgt Jones joined the Army at 21

Pat Jones from Wrexham is no stranger to waving her 40-year-old son Paul goodbye.

The Gunnery Sergeant is currently serving in the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards in Kuwait where British and American forces are gathered - but he has previously been on tour in Bosnia and Northern Ireland.

But there is more of a family connection as his three stepsons are also in the Gulf serving alongside him.

I do feel war is justified for the people of Iraq because they've suffered long enough Pat Jones, mother

Mrs Jones said she is scared for their safety but she believes war against Iraq is the only answer.

"We're very, very worried," she said.

"They reckon that America is saying that they're going to put chemical weapons on the south of Kuwait so it's very worrying.

"I do feel war is justified for the people of Iraq because they've suffered long enough and I think Saddam Hussein is an evil, wicked man and there's no knowing what he'll do next.

"I don't think they'll stop him until they do make sure that he's out of office - unfortunately this is going to be the only way to do it.

Pat Jones said she worries about her son

"Nobody wants a war, that's the last thing we want.

"Paul's only got two years left in the Army so we were hoping that those two years would be peaceful years."

The family had initially been worried about reports that food was not getting through to the troops.

"We were a bit concerned about the food in the beginning because they weren't getting very good food and we were sending food parcels.

"Now they have a cook and they're having really good food and three meals a day.

Keep in touch

"He doesn't say anything about the equipment now, he wasn't issued with boots to start with so his feet were a bit sore."

Sgt Jones' wife has stayed in RAF Catterick in North Yorkshire where he is based.

Mrs Jones said it is difficult for her daughter-in-law having three sons and a husband involved in a possible war.

The four family members have been spilt up from each other and in a telephone call home Sgt Jones said he had not seen his stepsons for a few days.

Mrs Jones, her husband, and their four other sons keep in regular contact with him.

"We've got the airmail - the blueys as they're known - and we can email him and he calls quite a bit," she said.

"The last time he called was Sunday morning and it's such a relief when you hear his voice to know that he's alright.

"They seem fine and morale is high I just think they're fed up now with all the heat out there.

"They're there to do a job and they just want to get on with it so they can come home again."

"I write more or less everyday to him.

"We try to think about something funny to make him laugh," she said.