Families adjust to extended deployments

Since being deployed in January, the 500 soldiers of the 1140th Engineer Battalion and their families have learned to cope with separation, new responsibilities and constant worry.

The experience has helped Kristi Heise, wife of 1st Sgt. Kenneth Heise, understand things about herself that she didn't know before.

"I'm learning how strong I am and how strong my faith in God is," Heise, a nurse at Southeast Missouri Hospital, said. "I know he has a purpose for everything and he will take care of me."

Still, dealing with three children -- Nina, 14, EmmaLee, 11, and Jacob, 6 -- can be a lot for two parents. To suddenly have all of that responsibility alone is one of the many changes Heise has faced.

But most of all Heise misses being able to talk to her husband every day.

"Just not being able to talk to him and bounce ideas off him has been the hardest," Heise said, "because he's my best friend. My best friend is gone."

Kenneth, who has been in the National Guard for 24 years, tries to keep in touch with phone calls and e-mail.

In Iraq, Kenneth has been facing his own new responsibilities: getting up early, going to bed late and spending a lot of the time in between assisting Capt. Craig Gatzemeyer, going to meetings and trying to make sure things run smoothly.

Serving in Iraq with Kenneth is his cousin Sgt. 1st Class Randy Seabaugh. Both are from Cape Girardeau.

Seabaugh left behind his wife, Emma, and their two children, Lindsey, 10, and Dylan, 5, when he was deployed.

He spends his days trying to keep a variety of communications systems up and running.

"It's a different thing every day," Seabaugh said in an e-mail interview. "The plus side is the time is going by quickly so far, and I hope the rest of the time will, too."

Seabaugh speaks to his family often but misses being home to share holidays and birthdays.

"The most difficult part," Seabaugh said, "is not being able to be right there when a problem comes up and missing those special days."

While he worries about things at home, Sandy Jones worries about her daughter, Lisa, who is a combat medic in the 1140th.

Lisa, whose father, Joe, retired from the 1140th, manages to keep in regular contact with her family when the phone lines aren't down, and that helps some.

"At least I know, when I hear from her, if she's OK," said Jones, who served in the U.S. Army.

While in Iraq, Lisa is working in a hospital, takes care wounded when there are any and does many of the duties an EMT would perform.

This separation came at an especially awkward time since Lisa just got engaged in December to Joey Howard. Both are from Patton, Mo.

Jones takes some comfort in the things she has learned from this experience. She now knows that her daughter can handle any situation and is proud of that fact.

Sgt. 1st Class Agnes Eyler of Jackson says being able to stay in touch with her children -- Joanna Lawler, 17, Ashley Lawler, 15, Laura Liley, 9, and William Liley, 7 -- husband Larbo Eyler, and mother Margret Lawler is the very important.

"Being away for a year is bad enough," said Eyler, who also served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve. "No contact would be harder."

While in Iraq, Eyler is acting as administration sergeant for the battalion, and her responsibilities include making sure the soldiers get their pay and allowances.

The first thing Eyler wants to do when she gets home is hug her kids and tell them in person that she loves them.

Despite missing their families and homes, Heise, Seabaugh, Eyler and Master Sgt. Chad Craft of Jackson, are glad to be able to do some good.

"The most rewarding part of this experience is being a part of something bigger than myself," Craft said. "It's a great feeling to help people understand democracy, to build the foundation for freedom and defend our country."

Craft is a battalion operations sergeant and he has worked in the Tactical Operations Center, which takes care of mission planning and day-to-day operations. Craft also has spent time on missions, patrolling more than 2,500 miles since late February in places such as Baghdad, Balad, and Al Nasariyah in Iraq.

It hasn't been all work, though. Craft has managed to spend some time with the Iraqi people during his missions. He played soccer with some children, had a cup of tea with a local police chief and shared pictures of his family with village elders.

For Craft, the hardest part of this is being away from his 29-month-old son, Caleb. While Craft misses his wife, Melissa, and other family members, he knows they understand his absence and that Caleb is too young to know why his father has been gone so long.

"My son just knows that Daddy calls on the phone and sees pictures of me now and then," Craft said.

Craft also had to be away from home in 2002 when Caleb was born. At the time, he was deployed to help with security at the winter Olympics.

The 1140th is scheduled to return in January.

1st Lt. Jamie Melchert, state public affairs officer for the National Guard, said that while it is difficult to give an exact return date, there is a good chance the 1140th will return on time.

According to Melchert, no units have received extensions since April, but he added that all Army National Guard units that are deployed can be mobilized for a two-year period.

The members of the 1140th currently are performing tasks like providing security, helping with the disposal of enemy munitions and distributing supplies to local villages. The group was also stationed in Kuwait for part the time they have been gone.

In the meantime, Kristi Heise looks forward to the day her husband, Kenneth comes home.

"We'll probably have a big party," she said, "but it's going to be a big adjustment having him home."

Craft is looking forward to his return home. He can't wait to hold his son, spend some time at the pool and drive a car down the road without worrying about anything, he said.

dfarley@semissourian.com

335-6611 extension 226