| 1/3/2008 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Toppe, talks about his upcoming deployment to Iraq before the ceremony begins. About 120 soldiers from the Madison area are among the 3,400 soldiers headed to the Middle East. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie) |
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| A Troop 1-152 soldier Spc. J.R. Weaver’s wife, Crystal Weaver, cries as she watches her husband take his place in formation at the Indiana National Guard 76th Infantry Brigade departure ceremony. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie) |
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Thousands give Indiana Guard members a patriotic send-off
Justin Helfrich
Courier Staff Writer
Jefferson County families said goodbye to about 120 soldiers from Madison's Alpha Troop on Wednesday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
The local National Guard unit is being deployed to Iraq as part of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is 3,400 strong and comprised of National Guard men and women from all corners of Indiana. It is the largest deployment of Indiana troops since World War II and will last a year for most soldiers.
Miniature American flags were handed out at the door and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" played on the public address system. The soldiers' families and friends sat in the stands.
Crystal Weaver of Madison sat with her children, Alex, 11, and Courtney, 12. Her husband, J.R. Weaver, 34, is in Alpha Troop. It will be his second deployment. His first tour was with the Navy in 2005.
She said it was harder and more emotional this time around because their children are two years older.
"I was 9 the first time," Alex Weaver said. "I didn't have the experience then. Now it's more emotional and sad. It's not how life normally should be as a kid."
J.R. Weaver stood with his comrades from Alpha Troop on the field behind a large blue curtain, waiting for the ceremony to begin. They stood in the Colts' end zone, chatting, shaking hands and wishing each other a happy new year. A few soldiers tossed a football on the RCA dome's Astroturf.
"I'd be stupid to say 'no,'" Weaver said when asked if he was scared about the mission. "Every person has to be scared. There's people lurking in every corner, and we don't know when they're going to hit."
Weaver said that on his last deployment to Iraq he completed 72 missions in convoy security, logging 14,000 miles. He expects to be doing convoy security on this tour, too. Weaver said he didn't see much action on his last tour.
"And that's a good thing," he said, smiling.
Packed away in Weaver's duffel bag, along with photos of his family, was a Mr. Potato Head from the Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department for good luck.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Toppe, 29, of Jefferson County, held a carved wooden staff, on top of which was a carved wooden skull adorned with a cavalry hat.
"It wards off evil spirits," Toppe joked. Around the mascot's neck were ID tags reading "Frank Cavalry."
"But we're not actually practicing voodoo," Toppe said. He said he'd brought "everything but the kitchen sink" for his tour in Iraq.
Once the soldiers were seated in the RCA Dome, politicians including five congressmen, Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and Gov. Mitch Daniels gave speeches.
"All this boils down to, is to say thanks," said Indiana Fifth District U.S. Rep. Dan Burton.
Col. Courtney P. Carr, commanding officer of the 76th Infantry Brigade, also spoke to the soldiers and their families.
"We've chosen to be soldiers knowing that the nation would call us to serve," he said. "Our families, on the other hand, they kind of get drafted. What you all do allows us to be soldiers and allows us to focus on our mission."
After the speeches, family members watched a slide show of 76th Infantry Brigade soldiers training, accompanied by the Toby Keith song "American Soldier."
"It was awesome," said an emotional Crystal Weaver about the ceremony.
Her son, Alex, said that he could see his father and was waving to him, trying to show his mom where J.R. was, somewhere in the mass of soldiers headed for a line of buses outside the RCA Dome.
When it was all over, the 76th Infantry Brigade loaded up on buses that would take them to Fort Stewart, Georgia where they will receive further training until March. From there, they will go to Kuwait for about a week, then finally start their tours in Iraq.
Kevin Tandy Sr. and Lois Tandy were also in the RCA Dome to say farewell to Spc. Kevin Tandy Jr., 19, of Madison.
Lois Tandy said she was worried because her grandson is 6-foot-5.
"He's a big target. He's too big to hide behind a trash can," she said. "Not that he would hide, but you get the idea."
"He's been kind of excited one day, not so much the next," Kevin Tandy Sr. said about the lead-up to his son's deployment.
"I'd just as soon him stay home," he said.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, January 04, 2008
Article comment by:
Nicole
Good luck to everyone! Especially Kevin and Jeremy
Posted: Friday, January 04, 2008
Article comment by:
GAIL FREEMAN
I agree with you Cheri this is my son's second time Eddie Freeman.I personally fill as some of the yellow ribbons that have been placed downtown should have been place along the hilltop also.We should all remember all of the men and women who are fighting to protect US!We may not be for the war but we need to be for the men and women and show are support fly yellow ribbons wear a ribbon what ever it takes to support our troops! My thoughts and prayers are with each and every family.May all of our troops have a safe return HOME!
Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2008
Article comment by:
Megan
Good luch Jeremy! And everyone else leaving!
Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2008
Article comment by:
cheri carter
my name is cheri and i am not trying to complain or soound rude but i believe that they should have been an article with all of the soldiers name in it that are from madison, my fiance Cameron coleman went for the second time we have a 4 month old little girl and then there is Brian cox who is leaving his wife and unborn daughter taylor who will be born aroung febuary 18 th and then there is damien perry that is leaving his wife behind also. all you every hear about is a few of the soliders when there are more of them with families to. we are all going to miss them and it takes wifes life myself and heather to be there for them to help them feel better and to be there for each other to make each other feel better and for each other to lean on. i just honestly believe that it would be nice for them guys to have there home town be honored that they all have went to fight for us by listing each of them by name in our paper. thank you very much cheri carter
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