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DES MOINES, Iowa (10/21/2012) - Since 2001, soldiers from all
over the Army and from all walks of life have been deploying to
Operation Enduring Freedom as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom and
countless other theaters of operation. With these deployments comes
the difficult task of dealing with the separation from those we love
and care about. This task doesn't just fall on the soldiers
deploying, but also upon the shoulders of the friends and families
of our brave comrades. Once again, soldiers from the 372nd Engineer
Brigade are heading out the door to go to war.
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Spc. Jesse Thorsen of Kansas City Mo., a Combat Engineer from the 402nd Engineer Company out of Des Moines, Iowa, holds his 3-month-old baby girl Cara Thorsen,
during the units last family day before mobilizing to Afghanistan,
October 20, 2012. Photo by Army Sgt. Clifford Coy
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One such unit
is the 402nd Engineer Company, based in Des Moines, Iowa. For some
402nd soldiers, this is just another day in the Army, but for
others, this will be their first time in a combat zone. This,
however, is not Spc. Joshua Pauer's first time leaving his family to
deploy.
Pauer, from Wayzata Minn., who is a combat engineer
with the 402nd Engineer Company, out of Des Moines, Iowa, joined the
Army in 2008 when he was 23, and knew that he was due to deploy
before he even attended basic training. He deployed with the 372nd
Engineer Brigade to Afghanistan in 2009-2010 shortly after finishing
his advanced individual training and is currently mobilizing to go
back. This time he will be with the 402nd Engineer Company.
"When I first found out that I was going to mobilize and deploy I
was absolutely terrified,” said Pauer. “I just remember going to
Fort Snelling with my recruiter to see my unit before I even went to
basic training and it said good luck in Afghanistan on the wall and
my heart sank. I was very nervous but that was mostly due to the
lack of knowledge on what I was going to be doing. I hadn't been to
basic training so my confidence as a soldier was next to nothing.
When I got out of basic and AIT, I was excited and ready to do my
job and contribute to a nation that has given me so much."
Whether attending for training or going on a deployment, leaving
your family is never an easy thing to do. Families take on more
responsibility when their soldiers are gone and also have to deal
with constantly worrying about their loved ones' safety. This is why
it is important to have a strong relationship with them while they
are away, because no matter how easy
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the deployment is, it's not that easy to be away from those you
love.
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Luckily Pauer has
the strong backing of friends and family to include his father Bob
Pauer from Scottsboro, Ala., who attended the 402nd's going-away
ceremony, Oct. 20, in Des Moines.
"When I found out he was
deploying it was a bitter sweet moment for me as a parent,” said Bob
Pauer. “I love him and I want him to do what makes him happy. But
yet you are worried and have a little concern. Also it was what he
wanted and it's what he seems to thrive at and what he is good at."
Another person that helped him through his deployment was his
girlfriend of six years, Ashley Conrad of Lakeville, Minn., who also
attended the going-away ceremony.
"Ashley knew that I wasn't
always going to be able to talk to her and when I did talk to her
she knew that I didn't always have that much time to talk,” said
Pauer. “So we wouldn't focus on the negative things that were going
on in life, we would just talk about the positive things. Her
understanding and knowing all that from the get go of my deployment
was crucial because talking to her was obviously the highlight of my
day or week."
For most soldiers today, it doesn't take a lot
of effort to keep in touch with friends and family back home. Most
forward operating bases have both internet access and phones that
are readily available for soldiers to use. And of course, there is
the traditional postal service way to get in touch with people back
home.
"From the time we mobilized to the time we deployed,
the military did a good job of setting up ways to get in contact
with your family,” said Pauer. “Everywhere I went, there was a USO
where you could make calls to your family and let them know you're
okay."
Pauer said that if both the soldiers and families have
good communication and understanding with each other during a
deployment, it will make the process smoother for everyone involved.
"I expect a lot of good stories to come from this deployment,”
said Pauer. “There should be lots of joking around and lots of
seriousness at the same time when you need to get business done. I
expect to go over there and do what we need to do with helping out
whoever we can over there, including our own coalition forces and
the local populace, being proud of what we do and of course coming
home safely."
By Army Sgt. Clifford Coy
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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