Photo By 2nd Lt. Rebecca Linder | Spc. Chase Blair, Directorate of Public Works clerk, left, and Spc. Jory Rogers, share...... read more read more
CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan – Soldiers will often say that being part of the National Guard feels like being part of one big family. The ironic truth behind that statement is, occasionally, service members who are related have the opportunity to work and even deploy together.
Several Soldiers, along with their relatives, deployed to Afghanistan with the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Dakota Army National Guard, for a one-year tour making the unit feel even closer to being one big family.
Deployment not only affects the family members who are deployed to Afghanistan, but it also affects their families back home, especially when more than one family member goes at a time.
“My family has become closer than ever here at home. Although I feel that it adds more stress having two vital pieces of my life gone, I am proud of them and what they are doing,” said Staff Sgt. Rachel Hangman, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Willis Hangman and sister of Sgt. Andrew Hanson, both Soldiers of the 196th. “If I wasn’t proud, I wouldn’t be a part of the National Guard myself.”
Although times can be tough without their loved ones, family members back home feel more at ease knowing their Soldiers have family within the unit to keep in touch with. The Soldiers here also feel being deployed with a family member gives them a little piece of home away from home while being gone for a year.
Whether with the Army or growing up together, several family members within in the 196th continue to stay close while being deployed.
Cousins
Deciding to dedicate time to the Army National Guard is a big decision in someone’s life, but for two Soldiers and cousins of the 196th, they decided serving their country together would be the right thing to do.
The beginning of their journey started when Sgt. Chasity Oswald, 26, and Spc. Natalie Anderson, 28, raised their right hand together to swear into the National Guard.
“I always knew I wanted to get in, but I just didn’t know when,” said Anderson, supply specialist and Hurley, S.D. native. “After my recruiter told me that Chasity was getting in and we could go to training together, I said ‘sign me up.’”
Oswald, Viborg, S.D. native, and Anderson attended Basic Combat Training together at Fort Sill, Okla., in the summer of 2001 and then attended Advanced Individual Training together the next summer in Fort Lee, V.A.
The Soldiers then graduated their respective AIT and reported to their home station, the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 147th Field Artillery Brigade, SDARNG, which is now a legacy unit of the 196th.
Almost 10 years later of being in the same unit, both got the call to be mobilized with the 196th in May.
“I’ve always been thankful that I have someone I am related to with me in the unit and it’s good that we have each other here because we spend all our down time together,” said Oswald, company administrator. “The biggest satisfaction out of this is that it makes it easier for our families knowing that we have each other to go to for anything.”
“I have someone here that knows me well and we share the same family so when something is wrong or something happens back home, one of us always knows about it and can share with the other person,” said Anderson. “So not only is it easier for family, but we get comfort while sharing with each other what is going on back home.”
Anderson also added that sharing another military experience with her cousin will be something she will never forget and when they get home they will be able to share their deployment stories with family.
Brothers
Serving their country together now isn’t the first time these two have spent a deployment with one another. Having prior deployment history together to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, made it easier for Staff Sgt. Dallas Vallery and Master Sgt. Travis Vallery to decide to deploy together again, but this time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the 196th.
“It helps some of the family at home with peace of mind knowing we are here together,” said Travis, Kabul Base Cluster Directorate of Public Works noncommissioned officer in charge. “When we were in Iraq, we were 100 miles a part and we only saw each other a few times; here we see each other almost every day.”
“It’s a different mission this time,” said Dallas, command administrative noncommissioned officer. “It was easier on us and our family knowing that we would be closer to each other this time and working on the camp instead of outside the wire.”
Although the Pierre, S.D., natives didn’t get to see each other often during their previous deployment, they have shared down time here by talking about their days and playing card games such as pinochle and cribbage.
The older of the two, Travis, said it is nice having his brother here because he doesn’t like to talk on the phone or write letters so his younger brother keeps family updated on the deployment.
“Having someone here you know and can rely on instead of someone you are just getting to know makes it easier,” said Dallas.
Best friends
They may not be cousins, brothers or even related, but Spc. Jory Rogers, share point administrator, and Spc. Chase Blair, Directorate of Public Works clerk, have been best friends for as long as they could remember. Even though they are not blood related, the bond they have is just as strong as two blood brothers have and they continue to call each other brothers to this day.
Since the Pierre, S.D., natives were two and four years old, they have done almost everything together. Both went to the same school and graduated from the same class. The brothers were also each other’s best man in their weddings.
“I even had my own room at his house growing up,” said Rogers, 25. “Chase’s mom used to help take care of me and feed me all the time.”
Although the gentlemen did not join the National Guard at the same time, Rogers said after he saw the way Blair presented himself after joining, he knew it was something he wanted to do.
Both said they wished they were in the same unit, but finally got their wish when they were chosen with the request for forces to deploy with the 196th.
“I was really excited when I found out he was going,” said Blair. “I also think it made it easier on our mothers knowing that we were going to deploy together and that we have each other to look out for.”
Although the two work in different sections doing different jobs, they still get the opportunity to see each other during their down time. They are even next-door neighbors in their living space, by luck of the draw.
“Everything has just fallen into place for us,” said Blair. “I got here with the first group and had my room already and when Rogers got here with the second group, I asked him what building he was in and it was the same as mine; we are lucky to have each other.”
“When we have bad or exciting days, we always come back to each other at the end of the day and either vent to each other or talk about our days,” said Rogers. “He doesn’t even have to ask me what’s wrong, he just knows and then we talk about it; it’s great to have someone here like that.”
Through good and bad days, Blair and Rogers will continue to be best friends while serving their country together.
“It’s nice to have somebody around that knows what I have been through in my life, and has always been there for me; this is just another thing that he is here for,” said Rogers. “It’s nice to have the support right here; where ever we go and whatever we do, we always support each other and help each other.”
With these six family members and more than ten percent of the unit being related, it’s not hard to see why this unit is so close.
“This unit as a whole resembles one big family,” said Rogers. “Some days the Soldiers have tough days, but there are always people to support them and bring them back up. We all support each other in several ways.”
Even with Soldiers ranging from young mothers to grandparents, and lower enlisted troops all the way up to a brigadier general, the 196th members never let their title get in the way. They always have advice if someone needs it or come together to help a Soldier in need.
With the experiences they share and the continuous support they give one another, Soldiers of the 196th will continue to serve proudly in Afghanistan. Through tears, laughter and helping hands, the Soldiers of the 196th have become a close family.
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2010 05:05 |
| Story ID: | 55506 |
| Location: | CAMP PHOENIX, AF |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 12 |
This work, 196th Soldiers serve alongside family members, relatives, friends, by 2LT Rebecca Linder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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