Caledonia Argus

Families proud of sons serving in Middle East

Posted: 3/25/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

With television broadcasts of thousands of American troops storming across the desert, making a beeline for Baghdad, the multi-megaton missiles being launched from behemoth U.S. battleships, and the warplanes dropping big bunches of bombs over Iraqi territory, the war in the Persian Gulf has been depicted in terms of the major movements and mass attacks of one enormous American military unit.

And it is a mass attack by an enormous army, but armies are comprised of individuals, individuals with mothers and fathers and friends back home, anxiously awaiting their soldiersí return. Those with next of kin in the armed forces have two vested interest in this war, and with American victory almost assured from the get-go, concern is now fixed on the well-being of those closest to them.

Caledonia has its share of soldiers, and in turn its share of mothers and fathers with children overseas. Four families shared their stories with The Argus, and what becomes conspicuously clear is that they all share two things in commonñ pride in what their sons are doing for their country, and the hope that their sons will return home safely and in quick time.

Joe and Diana Hammell

E-mail has been Joe and Diana Hammellís only contact with their son Abe in the past week, but television footage has given them some idea of what Abeís milieu is like in the Persian Gulf. ABC and CNN had correspondents aboard the ship last Wednesday night, and stations showed footage of F14s and F18s taking off from the deck.

ìSeeing some of the film on the ship, you kind of had a little bit more of a connection,î Mrs. Hammell said. ìSeeing people go about their jobs calmly and knowing he was there, that was really reassuring.î

Abe Hammell, general medical officer aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, intended to be back in U.S. early this year, but before he reached U.S. shores his ship received unexpected orders to head for the Middle East. The Hammells said they eagerly await Abeís arrival back home.

ìItís very hard,î Mrs. Hammell noted. ìHe was supposed to be back in January. They got as far as Guam and they turned around. Theyíve been there so long, itís really rare for them to be out longer than six months.î

ìItís going to be so great to see him, have him back soon,î she added. ìItís all you think about.î

Keith and Carolyn Hollatz

While many young men spend their 27th birthday carousing with friends and whooping it up out on the town, Phillip Hollatz, a 10-year veteran of the armed forces, was deployed to Kuwait. Parents Keith and Carolyn havenít spoken with him since.

ìYou donít know what heís doing,î said Mr. Hollatz. ìYou watch hundreds of tanks pouring over the border into Iraq on CNN, and he might be following them, or he might still be in Kuwait. We don't know, we have no idea what heís doing.î

Though the Hollatzí arenít certain where Phillip is at, they tend to think his unit has entered Iraq, since the transport unit heís with is responsible for trucking supplies. An e-mail from Phillip last Wednesday gave only vague details of his doings and whereabouts.

ìThey were obviously told not to give their parents much information,î Mrs. Hollatz said. ìAll he could say was that it was hot and dusty. That makes it kind of difficult to know what heís doing.î

Mrs. Hollatz said she tries not to watch television footage of the war, since it provides little solace. ìI honestly try not to watch too much of it, because then I donít sleep too well,î she said. ìIíve always been bothered by the concept of war, and I just hope that there are few casualties and people come back home safe and soon.î

Though she tends to shy away from details of the war, Mrs. Hollatz, along with her husband, said they take pride in their sonís decision to serve, and that his military service is something they both support. ìMilitary life is a good fit for for him,î she said. ìItís where he wants to be, itís where he belongs.î

Thomas and Carolyn Moenck

Ever since the time he was a little boy playing with GI Joe action figures, being a soldier was something Timothy Moenck always wanted to do, ìHeís very proud of it,î said Mrs. Moenck, ìand weíre very proud of him.î

Thomas and Carolyn Moenck said their goodbyes to their son last Thursday at a parade in Decorah, IA. Though his unit hasnít been called over to Kuwait yet, Timothy expects to be in the Middle East for up to two years.

Since Timothy serves as an engineer, how long he stays is contingent upon the amount of infrastructure damaged and, hoping to see his son soon, Mr. Moenck commented, ìYou just hope they donít damage too much infrastructure.î

Mr. Moenck was particularly proud to see his son serve. A military man of 30 years, heís even undertaken military projects in conjunction with Timothy. Both engineers, they worked together at Fort McCoy for two years on construction projects, and, though he doesnít foresee the two on the same projects, Mr. Moenck could potentially be called over to assist in Iraq.

Both parents await Timothyís return, and know their son is eager to get back, not only to be with family and friends, Mrs. Moenck said, but also to take full advantage of walleye fishing season.

Tony and Joleen Fink

David Fink was told to plan on being in the Middle East a full year, and parents Tony and Joleen are praying that his time there will be free from harm. ìIím very proud of him, but I have a lot of anxiety,î said Mrs. Fink. ìThereís many people praying for him right now, and I have to trust that heíll be fine.î

Though the outbreak of war stifled much of the communication between soldiers and their stateside families, David was able to phone his parents this past Sunday.

Mrs. Fink said she and Tony are supportive of Davidís choice to serve and, though realizing itís only a remote possibility, they hope heís back home in time for college in the fall. ìWe do support the decisions heís made,î she noted, ìand weíre hopeful. Heíd like to be back at the U (of MN) this fall.î

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