As some of you may know, my daughter is a single mom in the Air Force. Since her son was born 6 years ago, she has been deployed to the Middle East four times. Twice to Iraq, last year was Afghanistan, this year she has been in Qatar since February.
You may be thinking this is an awful lot of deployments for the Air Force and you'd be correct. Normally, the active duty Air Force doesn't deploy as often or for as long, but Renee is in a specialized unit called RED HORSE.
RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.
RED HORSE is a highly mobile civil engineering response force that supports contingency and special operations worldwide. They are self sufficient, mobile squadrons capable of rapid response and independent operations in remote, high-threat environments worldwide. They possess weapons, vehicles/equipment and vehicle maintenance, food service, supply and medical equipment.
Their major wartime responsibilities are to provide a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, civil engineering response force that is self-sufficient to perform heavy damage repair required for recovery of critical Air Force facilities and utility systems, and aircraft launch and recovery.
Basically, they are self-contained and are able to build bare bases form the ground up. They can provide their own equipment, personnel and security to go into a volatile area and build a new base or repair a damaged one.
Each RED HORSE unit possess special capabilities, such as water-well drilling, explosive demolition, quarry operations, concrete mobile operations, material testing, expedient facility erection, and concrete and asphalt paving.
So there's your little lesson on RED HORSE. More info can be found at the following links if you're interested.
RED HORSE
RED HORSE 823rd
Anyway, Jadin has been very accommodating with all the changes and adjusts extremely well with each deployment. He will be starting first grade in a couple weeks and has many friends both here in Vermont and in Florida.
The past couple years he has even gotten to the point of saying to his mom, "Isn't it time for me to go to Nina's." He's got wanderlust at six years old.
The time has come for him to go back to Florida. My mother is taking him back next week so he can start school there, and Renee will be home the end of September. It's always a bag of mixed emotion. Both when we pick up Jadin and take him home. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was bring him home with us and leave Renee there alone.
The same goes when Jadin has to leave. It's hard to be sad though, when I know he's getting his mommy back, and he'll be the first to tell you he loves us, but not as much as he loves his mommy.
So, Jadin has to go back to Florida, but is Renee is coming home soon. And really? That’s the best news of all.
Debbie
I am so happy to hear Renee is coming home hopefully she can stay longer here and I know you are gonna miss Jadin but you are a great mamaw to keep him and make his life full of love. Cyn
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Cyn. It's not easy to fill her shoes, but I try.
ReplyDeletethat is great news. your daughter and grandson are lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteLiz
The last picture says it all. Under difficult situations, you all made it work -- a fine example for all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about that picture. That was when she came home from Iraq. It was the moment he saw her. Lots of waterworks that day.
ReplyDeleteGlad Renee is finally coming home again, Debbie! Hopefully it'll be her last deployment. And Jadin is one amazing little guy. But his grandma is kinda special too. :)
ReplyDeleteYay that she's coming home! Wheee!
ReplyDelete:o)
Hey, Lisa. Unfortunately she already has the date of Aug 2012 for the next deployment. Thank you so much for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks Nutter!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, You put a human face on distance. The disruption to families is always lost in the waves of emotionless clutter that invade our homes on television sets, labelled news.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping Jadin has a safe trip and adjusts to the heat quickly. I'm hoping you re-adjust to the distance coldness quickly as well. But most of all I'm wishing Jadin's Mummy warmth, security and the closeness to what she loves most of all.
I'd also like to thank you and your daughter for raising a family from which we can all learn.
I'm proud of your daughter. Please let her know she has a distant admirer.
As for the writer that lives at your place, she knows how to create and sell a well crafted, heart felt story ---- Erin
Oh, Erin, you bring tears to my eyes. Thank you, so much, for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteThey say it takes a community, and truer words were never spoken. Between my mom helping out trucking him to and from school. My sons, giving him that "male" time for goofing around,wrestling, and just hanging out. Renee's friends in Florida taking care of things down there while she's away, and countless other people that help to make her time away easier on her and Jadin. It's just wonderful the way people pull together.
Unfortunately not all of our military members have that support system. We are truly blessed.
Thank you again.
A beautiful story. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I personally thank you and your daughter and family for the freedom your sacrifice provides here. It is a self-less kind of love that is obviously supported in the members of your family. The cause is beautiful so sincerely thank you all.
ReplyDeleteWe are all human, however, and what you guys do is humbling for what most take for granted. Prayers are with all of you. You're all heroes.
All of you have sacrificed so much! God Bless.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story, sad to let the little fellow go but he'll have mommy. You're the best, Debbie. So happy for you and your family. My son is in the Air Guard. Every time he goes over there, I count the days until he's back. He's not gone as long as your daughter though.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good Mama! You made me cry. Big hug.
ReplyDeleteThank you all! I must say, the author community has always been so supportive of Renee and I. So many of you have sent Renee and her friends books each time she's been deployed, and many have just been there for me to listen to my stories of Renee and Jadin. I love you all.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Renee is coming home even if it means Jadin has to leave you. *HUGS*
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful she's coming home. I know you'll be thrilled and the joy will override the pain of saying goodbye to the little doll.
ReplyDeleteAwwww, thanks, Lex. Me too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diana! And it wont be for long, we are going down the end of December for 3 weeks.
ReplyDelete