Let’s remember, honor, visit and hug our veterans

Rick Wimer

I’ve been reminiscing about a time in my career that I was extremely involved in the lives and well-being of many of our U.S. Army soldiers and their families.

In 2002, my final assignment of my property management career was to take over the management privatization of 2,028 family homes located on Fort Irwin, Calif.; the U.S. Army’s National Training Center located in 1,000 acres of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

The mission of NTC, in short, was and still is to conduct tough, realistic, training for combat in a desert environment while taking care of soldiers, civilians and family members.

Upon arriving late in the evening, the day before my assignment began, in my hotel room I watched CNN interview a young Major who had just been awarded the Silver Star for bravery in Iraq. When the correspondent suggested that Iraq must have been very physically and mentally tough on the Major and his soldiers, the Major agreed but went on to say that the real-life training at Irwin was much tougher than Iraq and resulted in the prevention of an unknown number of soldier injuries and fatalities. That was my first and lasting indication of the importance of the mission at Fort Irwin.

All Army units deployed to the Middle East were required to complete the NTC training beforehand. They spent 30 straight days in the desert, along with NTC’s training group in life like realistic warfare in some of the most brutal desert terrain and hot temperatures in the world. On one full day, I was allowed to participate, dressed as the enemy ambushing our U.S Forces. Brutal and realistic is an understatement.

My mission was to create an operational team to improve the quality of life for our soldiers and their families including 2,000-unit homes with a population of about 7,500, that had built in phases over 50 years, and a 100-unit mobile home slum. My initial inspection of all the homes was shocking. I could not believe that our soldiers and their families lived in such terrible conditions, especially the junior enlisted ranks.

In short, 385 badly deteriorated homes and mobile homes were replaced with 900 new modern homes. In addition, we began a yearly remodeling program on older homes that is still going on today.

While there was a myriad of tremendous tasks to perform just to open our doors, with my newly employed team of 50, we set about our goal providing the best customer service in the Army and to significantly improve the quality of life for our soldiers and their families. Once asked “How will you get it done?” I replied, “You have to understand that customer service is far more than fixing the sticks and bricks. It’s about a team of people with a caring attitude who are tuned into every aspect of taking care of their customer.”

During my tenure at NTC, I met soldiers and their families from all 50 states. Men and women who had dedicated their lives to serve with honor and pride, these, our United States of America. Each of my homes at Fort Irwin had a story to tell about the families and their soldier that occupied them. Most there were assigned to train. Their unit, however, the 11th ACR at NTC were deployed to participate in Iraqi Freedom for one year while I was there. I would like to share some of my experiences with you.

Roll Call for Private First Class Casey Leware

Private First Class Casey Leware was 19 years old. He grew up in Redding, Calif. And like so many others like him, wanted to be a soldier serving his country. So young, so dedicated and so brave. Yet sadly he was one of 21 fallen soldiers from the 11th ACR Regiment at Fort Irwin who were deployed to Iraq in 2005. Many, if not most of them, were residents of my family housing — The Village of Fort Irwin. His was the first one of 21 memorial services that I would attend. He was one of the first to be cut down by sniper fire in Iraq.

Each of our fallen were returned to NTC and along with their family a final ceremonial service was held before being sent home for burial. The ceremonies all started with a Roll Call which was more emotionally touching than any other Army ceremony that I had attended.

Basically, the Senior NCO of the fallen soldiers unit does a roll call of those soldiers that served with him. The soldier’s name is called three times, “Private Leware, Private Casey Leware,” then after the first two there is a moment of silence, on the third time, the soldiers full name and rank are called; “Private First Class Casey Leware.” After a pause that seems to last a very long time, a retort comes out of the midst of the unit, “He is no longer with us, Sergeant Major.” A few more moments pass and then off in the distance you hear the sound of “Taps” playing, ending the service.

Each time the tears came, I prayed for the soldier and his family. I vowed that no matter what, I would, as the managing director, always do the very best that I could to serve the soldiers and families who lived with us. Whether a situation was good or bad, my resolve to take care of them, even after my departure, has never diminished.

Mrs. C is in my prayers

Mrs. C was a spouse of one of the fallen soldiers. When she received word that her husband had been killed in Iraq, she totally withdrew from everything. She would send her kids off to school, but she would never leave her house. She would not answer her phone, nor respond to a knock at the door. The soldier who was assigned to her could not get through to her. I had made numerous calls to no avail. I had helped her favorably with an issue while her husband was deployed. However, I answered my phone one afternoon. It was Mrs. C. I told her we were all worried about her and wanted to help. In our conversation she told me the reason for her withdrawal. She said as long as she stayed in her house and did not go outside, she would not have to face the reality that he was gone. The last time she saw him was when she saw him off outside of the home. To her, the outside represented his living. If she did go outside, she would have to deal with his death. As long as she remained in the home, in her mind, he was still alive.

We talked for some time about everything that she needed to do to begin her healing process. I’m sure one of those things was that she had to leave the house; go outside. I’m sure I asked her to come to see me. I don’t recall being hopeful that she would anytime soon. After the call ended, 15 minutes later, she came to my office. She had left the home. Together with other members of my team, we started her on her way and helped her right up until she departed Fort Irwin with her family. While over the years I had helped many soldiers with many things, this was “the” most poignant, heartwarming and unforgettable moment I had among them all. Today, while I don’t know her whereabouts or know what she is doing, I will never forget her. She is in my prayers

LTC Wenzel, my hero

He was a Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th ACR Regiment. He had served in Iraq multiple times. He was Army through and through. I had the opportunity to work with him on soldier issues from time to time. He had great military bearing. He was straightforward. He was a gentle man. He was good man. LTC Wenzel truly was the right man for the job he did.

He was chosen to inform the loved ones of the death of each one of the 21 fallen soldiers at Fort Irwin. He did this regardless of whether they lived in our housing or in Storm Lake, if applicable. He personally met with them, not over the phone or through some other surrogate. He met with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters and the spouses of each soldier.  

I can’t imagine what it must have been like to walk up the sidewalk of the soldier’s home, knock on the door, introduce himself and then have to advise a spouse that her husband had been killed in action; or a mother that her son would not be coming home. The empathy, the patience and the compassion he would have to prepare for and exhibit each time must have been overwhelming. He could have never been able to predict what the reaction might be, but had to be prepared to handle each one.

It was my understanding from others much closer to LTC Wenzel that he was awesome at the interaction he had with the loved ones, and that he was very comforting to them. He would not leave their presence until he felt it was the right time to do so.

I don’t recall any special recognition given him for what he did. Nor do I think he would want any. He was a just a soldier doing his job. He remains and always will be one of my heroes!

A place to remember

Sometime after the regiments’ return from Iraq, I was called to the 11th ACR Commander’s office. He outlined a plan to dedicate a park to the 21 fallen soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in Iraq. He wanted to dedicate a small park, with a tree planted in honor of each soldier. “How could I help?” Without a moment’s hesitation I advised that my team and my landscapers would proudly provide the trees, plant them and install the grass and irrigation system.

Today, that park still exists and each tree has a plaque naming each of the fallen. The trees are arranged along a series of sidewalks shaped like a Y, where those who want to can spend time with one or all. Over the years, I would visit the park from time to time and it would strengthen my resolve to continue to vigorously press on and take good care of my soldiers and their families. I hope to return someday to see it and the majesty of the grown trees standing tall in honor of those they represent.

Deesha’s dedication

Deesha was a military spouse. She was one of my Resident Relations Specialists. She did a great job. She was highly respected by all of her co-workers. She was very, very dedicated when it came to taking good care of soldier families.

Deesha suffered from Sickle Cell Anemia. She was in pain much of the time. I knew nothing about her illness. I wasn’t even aware of it as a disease. I know now that it was a blood disease, very painful, can be very debilitating and can cause an early death.

One day as Deesha approached me, she had one arm propped against the wall and was shuffling very, very slowly, pausing momentarily before continuing on. I still see her as if it were taking place today.

To my query, she said she was in severe pain. I asked her why she was at work. She said that she had an appointment get a soldier and his family moved into their house and nobody else was available and she did not want the soldier to have to reschedule. I tried of make her go home but she would not go. She said she would do so after the appointment. I agreed and we both continued on our way.

I’m not sure when I learned of her sickle cell. Once I knew, I researched it and was shocked. Based on the symptoms, as I understood them, Deesha’s job at Fort Irwin, along with its climate, simply was not conducive at all to the disease. Nevertheless, without complaint, she continued to do her job with little or no absenteeism until her soldier family were transferred elsewhere. What awesome dedication. She was just one example of my staff of 50 office and maintenance team members who exhibited that dedication each and every day to our families.

Reach out to our military service members

Once a year, on the week before Nov. 11, my staff and I would spend a day at the Veterans Home in Barstow. Our goal: to simply interact with the veterans. Most of them were senior citizens. I would estimate the average age to be somewhere around 75. There were no longer any WWII vets there. There were some from the Korean Conflict and many from Vietnam, with a few from the Iraqi conflicts. Many were in wheelchairs either from aging or from ravages of war. Some were filled with anger and frustration; others suffered dementia. Some were friendly, others were not. Most were very enthusiastic and just loved our presence. We dined with them at lunch and sat with the vets and talked with them if they wanted to. When they did, they spoke of experiences they had while they served all over the world. They spoke of when and where they had been in conflict; wounding, maiming and the loss of the buddies. They spoke of the plight of the civilian populations and the suffering they endured; not just from the perils of the fighting, but also the constant upheaval they were in, the loss of many children and husbands, and the constant fear they lived with day after day. You could feel their anguish as they spoke.

The vets spoke of their families, many of whom visited them or took them to outings and events. Some sadly spoke of the lack of family visits, if any, and how lonely they felt and how thankful they were to have us there to visit and interact with. I know that we brought cheer to many of them and that was great. I also hoped for those who were unapproachable that we provided them with a glimmer of hope and happiness as we spent time with them. And that glimmer was worth the effort to continue this event year after year after year in honor of these brave men and women who have served our country with honor. God bless them.

On this Nov. 11, keep in mind the greatness of America is significantly related to our military service members and their families, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Never forget them, visit them often and keep them in your prayers.

Rick Wimer writes from Storm Lake.