Local Virginia National Guardsmen Headed To Iraq

Three dozen Tri-Cities region soldiers are headed to Iraq as part of a year-long deployment. Today, their loved ones said goodbye as they started their tour of duty. 37 members of the Southwest Virginia-based 1033rd Engineering Support Company left the region today. The soldiers are en route to join the 180th Horizontal Construction Company for training in Kansas. After two months there, they will land in Iraq this December. The 35 men and two women’s duties in Iraq will include building and repairing roads as well as protecting other soldiers.

“He’s been gone a month already and I’ve got a small taste of what it’s going to be like, but I don’t think I have any idea yet,“ Lisa Hall said just hours before her husband’s deployment.

Having just returned from training, Hall’s husband prepared to leave again Monday morning. A month apart was already bad enough for his wife and young daughter.

“It seems like everything’s tearing up since he’s left,“ Hall said. “My car had a brake light go out. I don’t know, it seems like everything happens after he leaves.“

But broken brake lights are the least of her concerns. Her husband isn’t the only headed to Iraq. Her dad is leaving too.

“I’m glad they’re going to be together,“ Hall said. “I feel like they can keep an eye on each other, but I hate losing two of my men in my life.“

Especially when she’s 20 weeks pregnant. Sgt. Adam Hall has his worries too.

“So many things can go wrong in her pregnancy,“ Hall said. “I’m afraid her blood pressure might go up. During the last one, she was on bed rest. I’m just afraid that no one will be able to take care of her.“

Like many of the soldiers from the 1033rd, this isn’t the first deployment for this military family. Both Hall’s husband and father have deployed before, but never out of the country. Her sister, Lennie Dunlop, says this tour of duty will be much different for their family.

“Going to Iraq, it’s a hostile situation,“ Dunlop said. “It’s a war zone, so there’s a lot more to worry about.“

But fear is only natural. A special ceremony full of applause for the brave men and women helped transform that fear into pride. However, when it was time to leave, sadness took over again. As soldiers boarded the bus, it was a challenge for many to let go, knowing this may be the last time they touch their loved ones for a full year.