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DEL.ICIO.USFamilies bid farewell to soldiers off to Iraq
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kimberly Smith/AJC
Amanda Hickman (top) of Rome, Ga., gives her husband, Specialist Jeremy Hickman a tearful hug. Sgt. Ian Carter of Decatur bids farewell to Caddock, his 6-month-old son.
Tears flowed and the apprehension was evident on the faces of family members and friends who gathered Monday at Fort Gillem for a send-off ceremony for Georgia Army National Guard soldiers.
On the heels of the 48th Brigade Combat Team’s return from a yearlong deployment in Iraq, more of Georgia’s citizen soldiers are heading to the combat zone.
Company H of the 121st Infantry Regiment’s 1st Battalion leaves for Fort Hood, Texas, today for two months of training, after which the 175 soldiers will head to Iraq, many for a second tour.
“I’m excited to go,” said Pfc. Jason Tomassini, 20, who works at a sporting goods store near Douglasville. “I’ve always wanted to be a soldier since I was little.”
Company H, an airborne long-range surveillance unit, deployed to the Middle East in February 2003, spending seven months in Iraq after the U.S. invasion in March. This time they will spend 12 months there.
Although the 48th, with about 4,400 soldiers, was the largest Georgia Guard unit to serve in Iraq, Brig. Gen. Lawrence Ross, commander of the 78th Troop Command, said at least 475 Guard troops from the state are serving there. Several more units are preparing to go later this year, and eventually will raise the total number of Georgia Guard members in Iraq to about 700, Ross said.
An additional 215 soldiers of the Georgia Air National Guard are also in Iraq, according to the state Guard office.
One of those soldiers already in Iraq, Maj. Michael Fordham, plans officer for the 122nd Rear Operations Center, is in charge of base defense operations at Baghdad’s vast Camp Victory complex near the airport. He described his job running the watch towers, checkpoints and badging facilities as “sort of like running a small city.”
Fordham, a 27-year veteran of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with expertise in undercover sting operations, said that like many of the 48th’s soldiers, his civilian occupation helps him in his military role in Iraq.
Gary Rothwell, a special agent in Perry, said Fordham was good in his job in Iraq because he is “creative in working out solutions.?”
“If you’re playing a role and something changes, you have to figure out how to maintain your cover and use what’s given to you,” Rothwell said.
He said GBI agents often would be working on several cases simultaneously and that meant taking on several personas at once. Fordham credited those organizational skills learned at the GBI for his successes in Iraq.
He reiterated what Guard leaders say frequently: National Guard soldiers bring an important set of civilian skills to their duties in Iraq. That’s especially true of men and women who deal with Iraqi citizens and local governments and institutions regularly.
That kind of close interaction worried Sgt. Jason Strohmetz, 32, a lineman for Georgia Power who served with Company H in Iraq in 2003. He said he knew the nature of the Iraq war had changed vastly since he was last there — roadside bombs and insurgent attacks were not nearly as prevalent then — and he feared having to perform civilian-like policing duties in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
“I’m more concerned about having to act like a police officer rather than a soldier,” he said. “Combat seems simpler.”
Ross said the long-range surveillance soldiers such as Strohmetz are badly needed in the fight against Iraq’s insurgency.
“They go forward in small teams and gather intelligence,” Ross said. “They look for infiltrators, look for bombs, bad guys. Their role is to not be seen, to be stealthy. It’s a tremendous role for our unit.”
But of all the anxieties of being called to war, Strohmetz said he most dreaded having to say goodbye again to his wife and four daughters. His youngest, Abby, 4, didn’t recognize him when he returned last time.
“I’m going to miss my family but I don’t mind at all,” said Strohmetz, who lives in Warner Robins. “I’m old-fashioned about the military. I feel like I’m supposed to be doing this when our country is at war.”
— Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this article.
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By Donna
June 6, 2006 01:16 AM | Link to this
God Bless you and your family. I appreciate the sacrifices you and your family make, to keep this Nation safe as well as Iraq.
By Christina Lowery
June 6, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this
To The Martinez Family- You are in my prayers as you are once again seperated. Tim, Thank you again for everything you do for our country. My family appreciates it greatly. We will take care of your family here while you are gone. Lots of love!
By A Maryland Mom
June 6, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
My son just returned in May with the 48th, and quite frankly I don’t think I could do this again. Be safe, keep your head down and thank you. God Bless you all.
By Proud wife
June 6, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this
To the soldiers and their families I send a huge hug. Having just gone through a year long deployment I know it’s going to be hard. I send lots of prayers for all concerned. Hurry home!
By Debbie
June 6, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this
To the Tomassini Family: God bless you! We are ALL proud of Jason in Douglasville. God speed for a safe tour and safe return home Jason!
By Kelli and Angie
June 6, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this
To the Stapp family, you are in my prayers while you are seperated. Alan, thank you for defending out country and sacrificing everything you have for our freedom and Iraq’s freedom. We will take care of Lizanne and the kids while you are gone. Let us know if you need anything and we will be glad to send it over to you. Love, Kelli Overton and Angie Latham and families.
By Amy Olsen
June 6, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this
GOD BLESS ALL OF YALL CO.H AND TO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND PVT.OLSEN FOR GOING OVER THE SECOND TIME TO DEFEND OUR GREAT COUNTY.. I WILL BE HERE WITH OPEN ARMS WHEN YOU RETURN.. LOVE ALWAYS YOUR ANGEL!!!
By W. Brooks
June 6, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this
I worked at the GBI with Mike Fordham prior to retirement. Mike, Shirley and family are a wonderful law enforcement family here in Georgia. I believe Mike will be coming home in a few weeks and I hope that he comes home safely. He’s a great cop and a great soldier, not to mention husband and father, trying to make this world a little better place to live in. Thanks Mike for working hard on the terrorist problem for all Georgia and US citizens. I hope you got to meet with retired GBI Deputy Director J. Davis who is over there training Iraqi police officers to do the job that he once trained many GBI Agents for. All of us narcs that worked with you two guys are awfully proud of you both. Col. Wally
By shelley
June 6, 2006 11:01 PM | Link to this
Jason,We love you, stay safe and come home soon! Thanks for what you are doing for our country.
By "Momma Kat" Orr
June 7, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this
Oh wow… I didn’t know there were MORE going over there… I thought they “all” went over and were back and that was that! Yikes!
If there are any deployed soldiers reading this, please give me a holler if you would like our family to “adopt” you… will be happy to send snail mail & other goodies while you are deployed…. Pls. email me at Jeffskat@gmail.com.
You are all in our prayers. Thanks for your service… we appreciate you and are proud of you!
“Momma Kat” Orr, Loganville, GA
By SSG Pitts
June 8, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this
To the soldiers of Company H: Good luck and God speed on the second go around. Come home safely.
By Former LRS Tm1-1
June 9, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this
Hey AJC, time to replace the 48th Bde patch on your main page, and put a Boar’s head patch. Guys from the LRS, be safe, be the best killers you can be, and come home safe. We will be praying for you. CSM(r)Patrick S McNaughton
By 48th BCT Wife
June 9, 2006 03:39 PM | Link to this
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Having just completed a year long deployment as a military spouse my heart goes out to you.
Always remember to say I love you when you get to talk to each other no matter what.
(((((((((( Hugs to all of you ))))))))))))
By michael
June 20, 2006 02:06 AM | Link to this
i just returned with the 108th. i would like to wish each and every one of you a safe journey. know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
hey tomasinni be well be safe stay in touch michael