Photo By Staff Sgt. Joshua Ford | Chief Warrant Officer Melina Harris, supply systems technician with Company A, 82nd...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Joshua R. Ford
3rd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – 1st Lt. Kim Johnson held the picture of her 13-year-old son in her hand, tears welling up in her eyes.
She had pictures of her son hanging on the walls surrounding the small desk she worked at on Contingency Operations Base Speicher, Iraq, but this one was of the last time she had seen him.
"That is Eric in December, (our family) went ice skating," said Johnson. Her husband Micah, who is also serving in Iraq, got to take leave at the same time.
"We did everything Eric wanted to do," Johnson added.
The photo of Eric began to bring back other memories. She remembered her 13-year-old son when he was younger. He would draw and paint for her.
"He is a great artist," said Johnson.
Mother's Day was near and Johnson, an intelligence officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, was just one of the many mothers in Iraq who would spend the day without her children.
At Chief Warrant Officer Melina Harris' desk, a supply systems technician with Company A, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, she is also surrounded by photographs of her loved ones. Her husband Gene, 6-year-old son Elijah and 13-year-old daughter Briana make up a shrine surrounding her workspace.
"I talk to them everyday before they go to school," Harris said. "It is my hour away (from work) everyday. I feel like I am at home."
Mom's day has reminded the two of how much is taken for granted while being away from loved ones for so long.
"I just wish I could help him with his homework, or just shake him when he doesn't turn his work in on time, or just look at his face and know if something's bothering him... moms always know," said Johnson.
"I miss getting the kids ready for school and cooking them dinner and just being mom," said Harris.
Harris has received numerous Mother's Day packages from her loved ones but refuses to open them until Mother's Day.
Johnson said she will get her "big" Mother's Day gift when she gets back.
"He has a lot of art projects he is doing in school and he is always telling me 'yeah I saved that one for you, so I'm excited. When I get home I will get my Mother's Day gifts," said Johnson.
The two mothers also have big plans with the family for when they get back.
Harris wants to take her family to the Bahamas to get away from work and relax with her family.
Johnson wants to take Eric to her hometown, Chicago, and visit family; then go to Cancun, Mexico.
The women look forward to being able to do what others may take for granted; filling the everyday role of "Mom".
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2007 13:30 |
| Story ID: | 10349 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 117 |
| Downloads: | 75 |
This work, Deployed moms spend Mother's Day away from kids, by SSG Joshua Ford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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