Lt. Col. Dominic Sparacio, the commander of the 40th Engineer Battalion, cases his unit's flag with assistance of Command Sgt. Maj. Keith Whitcomb during a ceremony Thursday at Baumholder, Germany. The 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division held the farewell ceremony marking the unit's third deployment to Iraq. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Lt. Col. Dominic Sparacio, the commander of the 40th Engineer Battalion, cases his unit's flag with assistance of Command Sgt. Maj. Keith Whitcomb during a ceremony Thursday at Baumholder, Germany. The 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division held the farewell ceremony marking the unit's third deployment to Iraq. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Daddy time...Chet, 2, enjoys a moment with daddy, Capt. Nicholas Schenck, a soldier from 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, at the conclusion of a ceremony Thursday at Baumholder, Germany. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Darby, 2, enjoys daddy Lt. Col. Michael Shrout, the commander of 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, at the conclusion of a ceremony Thursday in Baumholder, Germany, as Shrout's wife Lisa looks on. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Amid the pomp, small children in the bleachers gurgled baby talk, surely oblivious about what was to come.
But the older children assembled at the Hall of Champions in Baumholder knew well what loomed.
“Fifteen months is a long time for him to be gone,” said 11-year-old Malcolm Drosse, the son of Chief Warrant Officer 1 Mark Deboe.
“He’s going to leave us, and I don’t know if he will come back,” added Malcolm’s brother, 19-year-old Mark Deboe, touching on every child’s worst fear.
The soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division gathered Thursday for a deployment ceremony, signaling that the unit’s third tour to Iraq is imminent.
Cameras flashed to capture the moment as Iron Brigade soldiers stood in formation. The marching band trumpeted the Army tunes, the colors were cased, and the unit’s history was recounted.
Col. Robert P. White, Iron Brigade commander, reflected on the toll and the mission ahead.
“This family has endured multiple deployments, and none would have happened without some sacrifice by each and every member of this special family,” White said prior to the ceremony. “Their sacrifices strengthen our resolve to continue the global war against terrorism.”
In the coming days, the first of the soldiers will begin their long journey to the Middle East for a 15-month deployment someplace south of Baghdad.
V Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Kenneth W. Hunzeker addressed the audience and spoke of the sacrifices of soldiers and their families. During its previous two deployments, 48 Iron Brigade soldiers were killed in action and countless others wounded, he said.
“They are more than a footnote in this brigade’s history. They are comrades, buddies and friends, whose sacrifice can’t be forgotten,” Hunzeker said.
Hunzeker also recounted the unit’s storied history, from World War II’s battles in the desert to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“The next chapter in the long and glorious history begins today. And I am proud to be with you today as we send your formation back to combat for the third time in five years,” he said.
He also spoke of the recent actions in Iraq, particularly the fighting in Basra.
“Just like we see in those news reports, there is a golden opportunity for your brigade to once again assist these Iraqis in achieving their dreams of freedom and liberty,” he said.
But following the ceremony, the objective of the mission was the last thing on Malcolm’s mind. His thoughts were with his dad.
“I hope he doesn’t get hurt,” Malcolm said.
As the crowd dispersed, Hunzeker also reflected on the soldiers’ commitment.
“Three tours in five years,” he said.
