Publication:Chattanooga Times Free Press
Date:Sunday, February 06, 2005
Section:Front Page; Page:1

DISPATCH Iraq

By Edward Lee Pitts Military Affairs

CAMP CALDWELL, Iraq — With elections behind the 278 th Regimental Combat Team, the Tennessee-based unit’s first batch of soldiers began journeying home this week for 14 days of leave.

About two dozen soldiers sat with their bulging duffel bags Thursday afternoon outside the regimental headquarters’ building here. They waited to be trucked to a helicopter for a lift to a larger supply base in Iraq. From there the soldiers were scheduled to fly to Kuwait where they may have to wait a few days for another flight to take them home. Some of the soldiers had four-day passes to visit Qatar, rather than home.

"Those going to Qatar are going to have some fun," said Sgt. Johnny Ramsey, 26, of Morristown, Tenn., who oversaw the transportation of the group. "But those going home, it will be a lot better for you all."

Sgt. Ramsey called out names to make sure no one not on the list had sneaked into the group. He said about 20 soldiers left last week for home and an additional 22 went to Qatar.

Those waiting with their bags Thursday said they were not disappointed in having to go home so early in the deployment.

"Any time is a good time to go home when you are in a combat situation," said Pfc. Jordan Ethridge, 19, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., who planned to take a vacation to Miami.

The clock does not begin ticking on soldiers’ leave times until they reach the Atlanta or Dallas airport, depending on where they are headed. Regimental officers estimate each soldier will be gone about 20 days including about six days of travel.

Soldiers are eligible for one four-day pass and one two-week leave for every year of deployment.

The soldiers, a mixed group from various companies throughout the regiment, told each other their leave plans as they waited Thursday to depart Camp Caldwell.

Sgt. Monty Larson, 40, of Athens, Tenn., already has a cabin booked in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Spc. Johnny Ramos, 38, of Mc-Minnville, Tenn., is going to see his son, Jon, for just the second time since he was born six months ago. Spc. Ramos said he would not mind spending his time at home changing dirty diapers, giving baths and feeding his son.

Sgt. Lance Webb, 30, of Friendsville, Tenn., said only his wife knows he is coming home this early. He said they planned to surprise the rest of the family.

Sgt. 1st Class Carla Miller, 36, of Knoxville, was one of many soldiers who just wants to keep her plans simple.

"Visit family. Hiking. Bike riding and drink beer basically," she said, listing her leave priorities. Cpl. Chris Galyon, 32, of Harriman, Tenn., said he had no agenda beyond ordering a Big Mac at the first McDonald’s he comes to after leaving the airport.

Soldiers will depart Iraq on a regular basis from now through August, according to regimental commander Col. Dennis Adams. He said the regiment waited until after the Jan. 30 elections to begin the leaves and four-day passes.

The soldiers heading to Qatar said the country remained mostly a mystery to them other than it has beaches.

The nation sits on a peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. Soldiers said Qatar is the nearest safe country that offers conveniences of home such as movie theaters, restaurants and shopping malls.

"They said there is a Chili’s restaurant there," sad Sgt. Darryl Long, 39, of Knoxville. "The food here is all right, but I want a little variety now and then."

Spc. Chris Swaney, of Rockford, Tenn., 34, said he would try to go deep sea fishing and shopping at one of the country’s malls. Whether headed home or to Qatar, most of the soldiers could not describe their plans without using the word rest.

"Hopefully, I’ll come back refreshed and ready to go again," said Spc. John Marcus Olinger, 33, of Chattanooga, who is headed for Qatar. "I’ll wear some civilian clothes, unwind, relax, forget about all of this for a few days and then come back ready to rock and roll."

As the soldiers waited, fellow 278th members not going had a hard time concealing their jealousy when they came up to ask why these soldiers were standing around with their bags packed. But Sgt. 1 st Class Rick Mullins smiled when he heard most of the solders were going home.

"I’ll be right here Saturday morning heading out just like y’all are," said Sgt. Mullins, who expects to make it back to Chattanooga in time for his 28 th wedding anniversary.

E-mail Lee Pitts at lpitts@timesfreepress.com

U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika Sgt. 1st Class Carla Miller and Sgt. Lance Webb sit on their duffel bags as they wait to go on leave from Camp Caldwell, Iraq.

Story Copyright to Chattanooga Times Free press