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Weekend Musician Fulfills Duty In Desert
(November 8, 2009) |
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Army Sgt. Nicholas Raia strums his guitar on top of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, Oct., 24, 2009. Raia, who performs in the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division Band, volunteered to deploy as a door gunner with the 28th Combat Aviation Brigade.
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq, Oct. 30, 2009 – Army Sgt.
Nicholas Raia said it was a sense of duty that made him give up the good
life as a full-time Penn State student and weekend National Guard
musician to volunteer to come here.
After seven years in the Pennsylvania National Guard band, Raia decided
to take a year away from performing and volunteer for a combat tour.
Since January, Raia has served here as a door gunner on a CH-47 Chinook
helicopter with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment.
“I felt that after seven years in the Guard, it was my turn to do my
part overseas,” he said.
Raia, of Altoona, Pa., got his start with the Guard when, at 18, he
brought his trumpet to an audition for the Guard band. He aced the
audition and until last summer was a member of several of the band's
performance groups, playing trumpet, baritone and guitar for recruiting |
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formal military ceremonies. |
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Over the years he was in the band, Raia came to believe he should deploy with a
combat unit.
“Our job [in the band] is unique in that we are in the public eye often, and we
often get thanked for our service by people in our audiences,” Raia said. “I
would find myself conflicted, because while it is true that we, as a unit, were
serving our country in the way in which we were meant to serve, I also felt as
if I should be doing more.”
Raia had several friends in the Guard who deployed overseas at least once in
their careers. He said he felt those were the soldiers who truly deserved to be
thanked.
“I felt that after seven years in the Guard, it was my turn to do my part
overseas,” he said.
His final decision to deploy was met by his unit with unwavering support.
“My unit could not have been more supportive of my decision,” he recalled. “They
helped me get everything on the military side of the house in order prior to my
deployment and have made it a point to ensure it would not affect me negatively
upon my return.”
To get ready for the transition from full-time student and weekend band member,
Raia volunteered for additional training in weapons. In June 2008, Raia attended
the Small Arms Master Gunner course at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. To prepare for
hand-to-hand combat, he completed the weeklong Level One Combatives Course in
July. At the end of September, he was one of 10 soldiers in the first class
trained in the new live-fire shoot house, also at Fort Indiantown Gap.
But his transition from band member and college student to door gunner had
difficulties training could not help.
“It was a decision that I struggled with for a while,” he said. “It's one thing
to tell your loved ones you are being ordered to leave and a totally different
animal entirely when you are trying to explain to them that you are voluntarily
leaving.”
Raia said his civilian friends did not understand his desire to volunteer for
combat in the way his military friends did. “People in the military think a
little differently than those who are not and most of the soldiers in the
military today could probably easily understand the feeling of responsibility
that compelled me to deploy.”
His family also wasn't happy with his decision, but has since become very
supportive, he said. “My family worried about me and they were not real thrilled
that I would volunteer to leave them for a year to go to a combat zone.” he
said, but added, “Any previous uncertainty or worries has given way to pride in
what I am doing.”
Before deployment, Raia completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree
at Penn State with a double major in criminal justice and psychology. He plans
to become a police officer after deployment — except on National Guard weekends
when he will be back on stage or in formation at ceremonies in the 28th Infantry
Division Band. | |
By Army Sgt. Neil Gussman
Special to American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
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