2 Maryland Troop Units Deploy for Iraq

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TheWBALChannel.com


Two Maryland Troop Units Deploy For Iraq

One Unit's Deployment Comes Amid Uncertain Future

POSTED: 9:11 pm EDT June 10, 2005
UPDATED: 9:57 pm EDT June 10, 2005

BALTIMORE -- Two separate units of troops said tearful goodbyes to loved ones this week as they deployed to Iraq.


Nearly 170 Maryland Army National Guard members, from the 243rd Engineer Co., exchanged hugs and kisses with friends and family.


Two separate units of Maryland troops share tearful goodbyes before deploying to Iraq.

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Darrielle Snipes reported the unit will take part in a vehicle mission while in Iraq.


"(It will last) at least 18 months. Of course, it could be longer, but nobody knows," Spc. Stephen Hunt said. "We're just here to do our jobs and make sure everyone gets back safely."

This is the second Maryland group to deploy this week. On Monday, members of the 135th Airlift Group took off from Martin State Airport in Middle River.

Family members expressed remorse over their loved ones leaving; however, they remain proud.

The deployments leaves military spouse Stacie Handley alone in such a situation for the first time.

"Not so good, really not. I'm supportive, but this is very hard for our family. I'm a first-time deployment wife, so this is a little uneasy for me," she said.

Her husband, Kurt Handley, said there's "a little bit apprehension. I definitely would love to spend time with my family, but we have a job to do, and we're going to deal with it as best we can."

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Jennifer Franciotti reported this group deployed about 40 men and women to the Persian Gulf in two C-130J airplanes. They will assist Central Command operations by hauling goods and troops to and from locations in Iraq.

"The more that we can do, the less vehicular traffic, the less load miles you have on the ground, ... means less of a target for the insurgents," Maryland National Guard Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill said.

Franciotti reported this deployment comes amid uncertain times because the 135th is on the Pentagon's list for realignment, translating into a loss of more than 400 jobs, and the transfer of the C-130J aircraft to other states.

Under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission's proposed changes, Martin State would lose eight C-130J airplanes -- four to California, four to Rhode Island -- but gain three A-10s, commonly known as Warthogs, from Pennsylvania ( Read: Full Story).


"It's just the first step in the process, and we think our unit in particular has a strong unit with a lot going for it," Maj. John Nilan said.

"We are going to make our case to the BRAC Commission and we will use the facts and figures of the issue to do what we are able to do to keep this unit here," Tuxill said.

While the 135th will remain in the Persian Gulf for the next year, members will rotate in and out every 60 days.

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Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and WBAL-TV 11 News for the latest news updates.


Previous Stories:

* April 6, 2005: Young Md. Reserve Unit Deployed Overseas
* February 16, 2005: Md. Soldiers Return Home After Yearlong Deployment
* January 5, 2005: More Maryland Guard Members Deploy To Iraq
* December 8, 2004: Aberdeen National Guard Unit Deployed To Iraq
* July 2, 2004: Maryland National Guard Unit Deployed To Kosovo
* January 6, 2004: Maryland Guard Unit Deploys For Enduring Freedom
* December 15, 2003: Ehrlich Thanks Md. Troops In Wake Of Saddam Capture
* October 14, 2003: Maryland Troops Deployed To Kosovo
* September 12, 2003: Local Marine Reserve Unit Scheduled To Return Home

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www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.soldiers11jun11,1,5682250.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

The wait now turns to war

In the aftermath of the deadliest month for reserves, Maryland Army National Guard members head overseas to drive supply trucks in Iraq.

By Justin Fenton
Sun Staff

June 11, 2005

Bridgette Dupree stood on the front lawn of the Melvin H. Cade Armory with her daughters, Alexis and Allison, staring bleary-eyed at an idling bus that Cpl. Anthony Dupree had boarded moments earlier. That's when Bridgette's cell phone rang.

"Hi, baby," she said. "I miss you so much."

Cpl. Dupree was one of about 170 Maryland Army National Guard soldiers deployed yesterday for a year of duty overseas. After two months of additional training in Indiana, members of the 243rd Engineering Company of Reisterstown will drive supply trucks in Iraq.

They will be embarking on one of the most dangerous roles in the war on the heels of its deadliest month for reserves. Thirty members of the Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve died last month, matching the highest toll for any month of the war.

That weighed heavily on the minds of the families they are leaving behind, who had hoped their loved ones might be spared from being called up by a military that is heavily relying on reserves. Members of the National Guard and reserves make up nearly half the American force in Iraq.

"It's definitely going to be interesting," said the company's commander, Capt. Eric Swanson, taking a break from playing with his 8-month-old daughter, Sophie. "We're serving all the troops over there, to make sure they have what they need. It's a tough mission, but we know it's necessary."

The dangers of leaving for Iraq were magnified by the pain of being away from families and friends, which prompted plenty of emotional moments during yesterday morning's farewell.

Dozens of toddlers and young children played with stuffed animals and waved American flags, while boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters held each other close. A T-shirt worn by one woman summed up the feelings of family members: "United States Army Wife: Hardest Job in the World," it read.

Spc. Clarence Hammett, a wiry 31-year-old bank protection officer from Essex, left behind his wife and two children -- and in two weeks, a third. His wife, Kimesha, is pregnant with their third child, a boy, and they hoped to pick out a name soon, perhaps by the end of yesterday. Hammett said he is seeking permission from his commander to be with his wife when the child is born.

"If it's family first, if they really care about the soldiers, they'll allow me to come home to see my wife and my child," he said while his 7-year-old son, Dejour, held onto his side. He said Dejour has been telling his teachers in school that his daddy is going away for a long time. "That's really hard right there," he said, his eyes tearing up.

In a brief speech, Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, the adjutant general for the Maryland National Guard, assured troops and their families that they would be well taken care of. "You're Maryland National Guard," he said, interrupted by cheers, "and one thing we don't forget is Maryland guardsmen."

The emphasis on caring for troops in the Army Reserve and National Guard has increased in recent months because of recruitment difficulties. Yesterday, the Army National Guard reported it reached 71 percent of its recruiting goal last month, and the Army Reserve met 82 percent of its goal.

Though he's been through three deployments, yesterday's departure was particularly tough for Staff Sgt. John Hawkins. His wife's birthday was last week, their first wedding anniversary yesterday, his birthday today and his 27-year-old son's wedding tomorrow.

Because of the busy training schedule and preparations to leave, soldiers have not had much time with their loved ones. To celebrate two weeks worth of events, Hawkins, 46, took his wife out on her birthday. "I tried to keep her mind on celebrating, but there was a whole lot of crying," he said.

As 11 a.m. approached, one soldier roamed the crowd telling soldiers to load the buses. "Take it in! Take it in! Let's go!" he hollered.

Hammett waited until the last moment well off to the side of the building with his family, holding Kimesha and whispering into her ear as she buried her face in his neck.

Under the shade of a tree, Bridgette Dupree and her daughters watched the buses. She proudly showed a cell phone photo Anthony had sent to her. In it, he's seated on the bus, lips pursed and blowing a kiss to his family. She sent him a photo of her and the two girls returning the kiss.

"Right when we were having a hard time, he sent us this," she said.

Cpl. Dupree was part of Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s but was out of the military when the couple met in 1995. He remained in the Guard, and his contract finished in September. But as was the case with many other soldiers, the contract was extended. Bridgette Dupree says she does not understand why her husband is needed, and hopes the war will soon end.

"It's really scary ... I'm putting my faith in God he'll be OK," she said.


Spc. Heather Sams of Oakland hugs her son, Cameron Sams, 5, to comfort him before she leaves for duty. After two months of training in Indiana, the 243rd Engineering Company of Reisterstown will go to Iraq.
(Sun photo by Amy Davis)
Jun 10, 2005


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