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Thursday, 12 February 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Reaching out an arm and gracious comments were tips given by Capt. Matthew Molinski for welcoming home soldiers as he talked to the Rotarians at the St. Marys Eagles Wednesday afternoon.
Molinski discussed three different areas of being involved with the guard and being deployed, including preparation, being deployed and returning home to family and friends.
“These soldiers volunteer, they go oversees and their lives are changed,” Molinski said. “One of the things we do is take the soldiers and train them the best we can.”
Molinski pointed out that there is more training than ever required before being deployed.
“It’s about getting them physically, mentally and emotionally prepared,” Molinski said.
Molinski continued to describe what happens while the soldiers are deployed. The bond of brotherhood emerges, Molinski said.
“It’s not an outspoken thing but everyone starts drawing together,” Molinski said. “These guys would go away for two to three days or a week and the soldiers in their area would clean up their area or even write home to family and friends to say they are OK and if you need to get into contact with them I am here.”
The brotherhood is heightened when a major event occurs such as an injury or news received from home. Molinski said few, if any injuries, occurred during the most recent deployment.
“There is that defining moment when the guys who use to beat each other up for lunch money in high school are coming together and shaking hands,” Molinski said.
The missions for the troops during deployment were convoy operations.
“We were contracted to move supplies from Kuwait into Iraq,” Molinski said.
He explained the trip to the Rotarians and the expectations each soldier was expected to meet.
“The drives were eight to 10 hours,” Molinski said.
“They were not allowed to exit the vehicle at all during those trips, that includes going to the bathroom and eating. Outside those vehicles are dangerous.”
Molinski said the three soldiers together in the vehicle get to know each other well. Coming home also presents challenges.
“When they come home, that brotherhood is gone and we go back to our jobs and our families,” Molinski said. “It is hard to reconnect.”
In response to a question from a Rotarian about his personal experience being home, Molinski said one of the hardest part is reconnecting with his 1-year-old daughter.
“Just a week ago she got to where she is OK with being alone with me,” Molinski said. “It was hard for me to be a father, I was so use to leading adults, I had to learn how to be with her. It is very emotional and personal.”
The Rotarians continued asking questions of Molinski. One Rotarian asked Molinski if the troops felt the country was supporting them during their deployment.
“Wow, if you want to talk support, it is overwhelmingly obvious, on a small scale,” Molinski said. “We have has so much support from the St. Marys area. We are still going through mail from one of the second grade classes of colorings and letters.”
Molinski said their presence in Iraq has made considerable steps for the culture.
“In the first deployment in 2005 and 2006 they waited to send kids to school until we said it was OK,” Molinski said. “Now it’s business as usual. There have been huge leaps in progress from 2005 to when we just came back in 2008. They are more friendly and more connected.”
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 February 2009 )
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