Vt. deploys next round of troops

Author: Sarah Shaikh

Most of the general American public seems extremely removed from the ongoing war in Iraq. The sense of urgency to "protect our troops" and "not shed blood for oil" seem like cries from the past and now the reminisce of these slogans can be seen covered in snow on the bumpers of cars driving up and down Rt. 7. Even President George W. Bush, in his inauguration speech last Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, who encouraged the young American population to "believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character." Yet he forgot to mention the continued efforts of American troops who are still fighting a seemingly endless battle in Iraq.

Here in Vermont, however, it is hard to forget that we are fighting a war across the Atlantic, especially after Wednesday's deployment of another 330 soldiers and 45 senior officers. Of the 330 Vermont National Guards deployed to Iraq last Wednesday, all of the soldiers are men, the youngest age 18. Among them there are 160 officers who are married and 190 who have children who will be anxiously waiting for them at home. There are 18 college students in the group - 14 of whom go to Norwich University.

On Wednesday morning, 3100 family and friends gathered at the pavilion in the Champlain Valley Exposition to bid the soldiers adieu. The soldiers stood in their ranks while tear-filled family members gave goodbye hugs. The ceremony commenced at 8:00 a.m. and the soldiers and their families were provided words of encouragement and support from many local Vermont leaders. Governor Jim Douglas '72 was one of many to relay a message to the departing soldiers - "I must admit it's never easy, perhaps impossible, to find the perfect words to describe our state's gratitude for your service and the heartfelt commitment that we have to you and your families. I've said at previous send-offs that all of Vermont will stand with you and your comrades. I've said before that we're all proud that you'll bring Vermont's virtues and values to a place in the world that needs them now more than ever."

The soldiers were also addressed by Maj. Gen. Martha Rainville, the Vermont National Guard adjutant general who reconfirmed the necessity of this mission. "You're going to a place that needs your talents. You're going to a country, a nation of people just like us, who need a chance at democracy."

There is much speculation that this deployment will be one of the last largest scale deployments seen by the state of Vermont. The 330 soldiers along with the 45 commanding officers will spend five months at a training facility in Camp Shelby, Miss. They will then join a Pennsylvanian combat brigade on a yearlong tour in Iraq. The mission, as reported by the Burlington Free Press, is said to consist of security, patrolling, and conceivably combat.

It may be hard for some to imagine being one of the 18 Vermont college students who have been deployed or to face the reality praying that your loved one will return safely home. However, to some Middlebury students this feeling of concern is a reality. Tommy Heitkamp '06.5, originally from Orwell, Vt., is one of these many people hoping a friend will return safely. One of his friends and track teammates from Fair Haven Union High School, a war veteran at the age of 18, is returning to Iraq for his second yearlong tour.

"I worry about him. He is in a situation where he is in a lot of danger, though sometimes he would like to think that he is going into a safe and secure place. He is trained to go into a situation of that sort and being of a mind that is not emotional. He has been trained to do his job and he is going to do it no matter what," said Heitkamp. "It's hard for myself to look at his situation and really feel comfortable with it because it is something so unfamiliar to me. It is also difficult for those of us who are staying here to not feel a sense of urgency, it feels scary to sit here and think of the danger that he is about to face. He has a more positive mindset then I would have expected."