Mission: farewell

Toni Hopper
The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN August 21, 2008 11:32 am

— Stephens County population — around 43,000. But on Wednesday, not even 1 percent of that figure gathered for a send-off of 145 National Guard troops.
Those who did show up at the National Guard armory south of Duncan didn’t hold back their emotions. And most of those emotions reflected sadness. There were no dry eyes.
For the men of Battery B, 1st Battalion 158th Field Artillery, all that mattered to them was the presence of their loved ones and knowing they would be apart from them for the next year. Replacing that void will be their brotherhood with whom they will live, eat, socialize and fight a war against terrorism.
There’s Spc. Steven Lemons, 20, of Duncan, who isn’t sure of what the next year holds. It’s his first deployment to Iraq. Lemons is the son of Susan Boyer of Duncan, and Rodney Lemons of Texas.
A graduate of Duncan High School’s Class of 2006, he hugged his fiancee, Cheryl Watts, also of Duncan.
“It was overwhelming. There was all the love, and you’re trying to be strong and then that last five minutes, your barrier goes down,” she said. For many, the send-off is too emotional.
Watts said Wednesday night, during a phone interview, that Lemons’ parents were both present at the farewell ceremony held Saturday at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
“There were about 800 soldiers plus family and friends at the center. We spent time Tuesday with his mom. That was really hard for her,” Watts said.
The unit has known since October 2007 that the time would come when deployment from its home state would occur. But it made it no less difficult.
Many of the young men wore sunglasses to hide their tears.
Like Brian Hekia, 26, of Duncan, who was leaving for his second tour of duty. Seeing him off were his wife, Kassie, their two children, Madison, 5, and Camden, 2 months, and his mother, Teresa Wylie.
“It’s an honor. It’s what I joined up to do,” Hekia said. His mother said they’d be praying that all of them would again return home safely.
Aaron Helton’s wife, Michelle, and her mother, Mattie Hunt, also all of Duncan, embraced and held each other for as long as they could.
Wives, girlfriends, grandmothers and children didn’t try to hide their tears.
“It’s sad that he has to go. He has four boys that he needs to be here for,” Hunt said.
Sgt. Andy Callihan, 44, of Rush Springs, is also facing his first tour to Iraq. His wife, Mary, and their daughter, Shelby, 16, tried to show a brave face Wednesday. Callihan, a full-time active-duty Guard member, said more than 30 percent of the group that left Wednesday, is from Stephens County. Twelve of the men are Rush Springs residents, Callihan said.
The others are from throughout Oklahoma — Enid, Woodward, Chickasha, Lawton and elsewhere. And family members drove long distances to show their support. Like Luella Stacy, 68, of Lamont. She made the four hour drive to see off her grandson, Derek Bentley.
The deployment ceremony lasted about 45 minutes, long enough for the men to assemble, disassemble, say their goodbyes and remuster and march to the three chartered buses waiting outside on old U.S. Highway 81.
Many of the 158th are from Marlow, Duncan and Comanche. There’s those who have been before, like Justin Wilkerson and his brother, Stephen. And buddies who they’ve grown up with, like Jonathan Ditch.
On the buses, some of the men shouted out their names — Derrick Tadlock, Donald Brewer, Tony Grigsby, Scott Fitzhugh, James Baldwin, Darin Carman, Dustin Hames, Wilkersons, Ditch and Michael Andrews.
Ralph Pennington, who retired from the military in June, watched his son, Staff Sgt. Billy Holley, 25, gather his gear and head off. For Pennington, Wednesday’s event was just the beginning. His older son, TJ Holley, 26, will depart today from Anadarko. Pennington spends his days at the Duncan armory assisting privates who are heading to boot camp through the Recruit Sustainment Program.
This was Billy Holley’s first time for overseas deployment, but he and his father shared a round of mobilization that eventually fizzled, said Pennington. As the men boarded the buses, Billy’s son, Alex, got a ride upon the shoulders of TJ, to wave goodbye to his father.
“It’s not easy. My first time was in 1990 to Desert Storm,” Pennington said.
“You really don’t know who your enemies are (over there). We’re over there fighting terrorism, not oil or any of that other. We just don’t want them (terrorists) over here. People have forgotten or don’t understand why we keep going over there.”
Cpl. Richard Ortiz of Ardmore was there for the send-off and said afterward that he, too, is ready to return to help in the fight against terrorism.
“We’re family. Those guys, they are your brothers. The bond is strong,” he said.
But for the families remaining behind, they hope more people will show support for the troops.
“There didn’t seem to be as many people to turn out to show their support for our boys. We can’t go, the least we can do is turn out. Just send all your love, your support and love,” Watts said.
At 9 p.m. Wednesday, Watts got a call from Lemons.
The unit arrived at Fort Hood around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, she said.
Now all she can do is begin marking the days on her calendar until their return — sometime in September 2009.

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