445th TC Information Page 7

More Waterloo troops to leave for Iraq

By MATTHEW WILDE, Courier Staff Writer

CEDAR FALLS --- Mary Miller should be used to tearful goodbyes. But for a mother, they never get any easier.

In early 2003, the former Waterloo resident's oldest and youngest sons shipped off to Iraq. In the next day or two, her middle boy will leave for up to 18 months to fight in the war-torn country.

Spec. Andrew Miller, 26, along with about 50 U.S. Army Reserve soldiers attached to the 445th Transportation Co. based in Waterloo, will go on active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A sendoff ceremony was held Wednesday at the AMVETS Post 49 in Cedar Falls.

Since July, the medium truck company has sent two detachments of soldiers to war. More than 100 are already overseas. This is the final group to be activated.

Before the ceremony, Miller took time to hug her middle son. She knows she'll have a few more opportunities to hold him before he heads to Fort Riley, Kan., for training and eventually Iraq. But, she also knows from experience not to miss out on any.

"It never gets easier," the Marshalltown mom said. Her sons, Aaron and Adam, members of the Iowa Army National Guard, spent most of 2003 and the first half of this year in Iraq.

"It's just like having the worst day of your life three times," she said.

"But we're proud of them," her husband, Gordon, added. As are grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who still live in Waterloo, the family said.

Andrew said the deployment will be a little easier for him, compared to others in the unit, in which this will be their first deployment. He served three years in the regular Army, spending 18 months in Korea. He was assigned to the infantry.

Plus, his brothers have been giving him pointers about the country and what to watch out for. They said never pick up unidentified packages, which could be bombs, keep down and get as much armor in his vehicles as possible. Andrew thinks his experience will help others.

"They (fellow soldiers) will need to know a lot about the stuff I learned in the infantry to stay alive. But mostly, I'll be a friend and stay positive," Andrew said.

One advantage his brothers had is each other. Although in different units, Aaron and Adam were able to spend about 14 days together in Baghdad.

During that time, they joked about wishing Andrew was with them. While safe in Marshalltown, Andrew wished the same thing.

His time has come.

"It's kind of hard (now). It seems our family has paid our dues and now the third one is going," Aaron said.

The 445th will be hauling food, equipment, ammunition and anything else needed to support troops. Military officials said the company will spend 30 to 45 days at Fort Riley training before heading to the Middle East.

Since the soldiers will likely be at Fort Riley during Christmas, 2nd Lt. David Melendez said he hopes to be able to issue two- to four-day passes to his troops to make the 460-mile trek back to Waterloo, or where ever they are from, to spend the holidays with their families. Many soldiers, especially overseas, don't get that opportunity.

"The troops are highly motivated and morale is high," said Melendez, unit commander. "The will be an extra booster for them."

Courtesy of: www.wcfCourier.com