From Georgia Horses to Iraq Deserts: A Soldiers Deployment

Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs. After leaving Korea, my wife, her two horses, and I settled in Hinesville, Georgia. I was accustomed to long stretches away from loved ones, but this was new territory for my wife, used to the constant support of her family. Her mom, a petite but formidable woman, had been a young mother and twice divorced – initially, she terrified me! I worried that my wife might follow in her footsteps, a thought that left me feeling decidedly out of my depth.

Our move involved an 18-hour drive in a four-horse trailer. My wife’s attempt to share the driving lasted a mere 30 minutes before a rumble strip incident convinced me to take the wheel. Georgia’s peculiar highway numbering system, with exits numbered sequentially rather than by mile marker, added an unexpected hundred miles to our journey. Finding stables for horses was another adventure, pre-cellphone days requiring us to drive around, asking locals for recommendations. With military housing closed for the weekend, we thankfully found a room on base.

A few months later, the dreaded early morning call came. My unit was activated. In Korea, this meant donning full battle rattle and bracing for a long, cold night on the DMZ. This time, stateside, I had no idea what to expect. I told my wife I was leaving for work, unsure when I’d return. It was her first taste of military life’s uncertainties.

At the base, it was a whirlwind of inventory checks, equipment inspections, and palletizing gear. We wrapped everything in saran wrap and loaded it into storage containers. Exhaustion set in as we meticulously documented the contents of each container, fueled vehicles to precisely a quarter tank, and lined them up for further inventory. By 8 pm, I could barely keep my eyes open. After a mandatory medical check, we were finally released at midnight, only to be ordered back at 4 am. I managed a quick shower, a bite to eat, and a few precious hours of sleep before the cycle began again.

This grueling routine continued for five days. We worked tirelessly, fueled by speculation and uncertainty. Finally, on the fifth day, we were allowed to go home at 6 pm, but the 4 am return loomed. I finally saw my wife awake and shared the little I knew.

The next morning, we finalized preparations, drew our weapons, and headed to the airfield. There, amidst the lined-up vehicles, our commander delivered the news: we were deploying to Iraq to fight Saddam Hussein. My heart sank. Just back from Korea, I’d spent a mere four months with my wife since our wedding. Breaking the news to her and my family was agonizing. Tears flowed freely as the weight of the unknown pressed down.

My life had changed irrevocably in a single week. Fear and uncertainty clouded the future. From the peaceful Georgia countryside with my wife and her horses, I was now hurtling towards the Iraqi desert and the unknown perils of war.