Spartans prove all is fair in love and war

Photo By Spc. Gregory Gieske | Spartan Soldiers, Staff Sergeant Jacqueline Densen (back), HHC, 26th BSB, 2nd HBCT, 3rd ID, and her husband, Sgt. 1st Class David Densen, HHC, 2nd HBCT, 3rd ID, contemplate their roles as American Soldiers and supportive spouses during their deployment to Forward Operating Base Marez, located in northern Iraq.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, IRAQ

04.30.2010

Story by Spc. Crystal M. Bradley 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq – A Soldier walks into a compartmentalized housing unit, which he'll call home for the next year.

Removing his army combat uniform top, he reaches into his rucksack to retrieve his weapon cleaning kit, sits down on his make-shift, full-sized bed – two singles pushed together- and begins cleaning his M-4 rifle.

The warrior hears a key slide into the lock of his CHU. He tenses for a second, but relaxes at the sight of a very familiar face wearing a very familiar uniform.

It's his most trusted confidante, his battle buddy, his wife.

He gives her a quick peck on the cheek, sits back down on the bed, and resumes cleaning his weapon. After all, they are at war and the mission is always first – no matter what.

While most Soldiers leave their spouses back on the home front, dual-military couples in the same unit or even the same brigade deployed to the same area are allowed to frequently see their spouses, and whenever possible, are able to cohabitate.

Spartan Soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class David Densen, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Densen, HHC, 26th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd HBCT, 3rd ID, both deployed to Forward Operating Base Marez in northern Iraq, agree there are both perks, as well as weaknesses, to being married to another service member.

"Dual military couples face many challenges. You have to be an expert at balancing two very important parts of your life – your career and your marriage – in a career where you are on-call 24 hours a day," said Sgt. 1st Class Densen.

Staff Sergeant Densen said throughout the years, the call of duty has come at times others may find inconvenient, but she and her spouse have always coped and understood it's all a part of being a Soldier, as well as being married to a Soldier.

"I remember back in the rear, we were at church and David got a call saying he had to get a Soldier from the hospital. I didn't fret or get mad. I know this career is not a traditional nine-to-five job, so as his wife and a fellow Soldier, situations like this are easy for me to adapt to," said the staff sergeant.

The Densens said this is their first chance to live together during a deployment. On previous deployments, they were in different places and only got to see each other whenever time allowed.

"Once, we were both deployed to Korea, but she was on a different post than me. We tried to see each other on weekends, or whenever possible," said Sgt. 1st Class Densen.

Communication is what maintained the couple's strong bond, according to Staff Sgt. Densen, when they were deployed separately to Afghanistan.

"It was hard, but communication is definitely the key. You have to talk as much as possible. On the phone, e-mail, however you have to do it, it just has to be done," she said. "David and I would have bible study over the phone. One week he would lead, the next week I would lead. It was just something to keep us connected and keep the love fresh despite the distance."

Both Soldiers agreed even though they are together now, keeping their love alive and blossoming while putting out 100 percent towards the mission is still a day-to-day challenge.

"We are a very silly couple. We constantly laugh and joke around. You have to. You must be best friends so when tough times come along, whether it be because of our careers, distance, or anything, you still have to be able to be friends and get through it together," said Staff Sgt. Densen.

Sergeant First Class Densen said despite the long separations and other hardships they face, he's happy to be part of a dual-military couple, because his wife understands and supports what he does to the utmost, and vice versa.

"When I talk to my wife about what I do or tell her when I'm concerned about my Soldiers, or even when I want to turn in early because I have PT [physical training] in the morning, she truly understands," he said.

"She knows what it's like. We both believe we are touching people and changing their lives for the better through our career. It makes it even better that we can do it as a team – together."

• Date Taken: 04.30.2010
• Date Posted: 04.30.2010 03:12
• Story ID: 48913
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, IQ