Soldiers, families celebrate Father's Day while deployed

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Staff Sgt. Semeli Toilolo, an American Samoa native and an infantryman with 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, “Black Jack,” 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North, writes to his wife on a social networking site June 16. Toilolo is currently deployed to Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, IRAQ

06.29.2011

Courtesy Story

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – Missing important events like anniversaries, Christmas or New Year’s Eve can be one of the hardest parts of a deployment. Fortunately, soldiers and families still find ways to make these events special.

For two soldiers with the 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, “Black Jack,” 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North, currently serving at Contingency Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn, the approximately 7,000 miles separating them from their families on Fort Hood, Texas, wasn’t far enough to stop them from celebrating Father’s Day.

“When I joined the Army, I expected to miss important events,” said Pvt. 1st Class Jared Knutson, an Olathe, Kan., native and an infantryman with 2nd AAB.

This is the first Father’s Day that Knutson has missed since he found out his wife was pregnant with their daughter, Kylie, more than five years ago.

Knutson said that he and his family usually go out for a nice dinner on Father’s Day and his wife usually buys him a present every year. Knutson’s wife, Jennie, sent him a care package this year with small gifts along with cards from Kylie and his youngest child, Dylan.

“It was important for us to mail him cards from all three of us,” said Jennie.

The family wanted to show him that we are thinking about him, and we want the kids to understand that he is still daddy and still part of the family, she said.

“It feels nice to see that even when I’m away she still makes an effort to remember Father’s Day,” said Knutson.

For Staff Sgt. Semeli Toilolo, who is currently on his fourth deployment to Iraq, missing Father’s Day is nothing new, but his family still has difficulties with it.

“It is still tough for her,” Toilolo said of his wife, Margaret, who he has been married to for 13 years and has four children with her.

Toilolo, who hails from American Samoa, said it was especially difficult for her on his second deployment when he was wounded by a suicide bomber and spent three months in physical recovery in Qatar.

“She asks me how many more Father’s Days can I miss, but she understands,” he said.

“The kids also ask why I’m not home for Father’s Day,” he continued. “I just say that I have to help the kids here first.”

Toilolo, who has been an infantryman since 1998, said his wife usually makes a point of sending him a care package on Father’s Day with all the letters from the kids and his favorite candy, chocolate.

“It’s always an important event for our family,” said Toilolo. “It makes it a little easier for me knowing that she remembers every year.”

“I always tell my wife not to worry about it; I don’t need anything as long as I have her and the kids,” he continued.

For the soldiers and families separated by deployment, celebrating holidays might not be easy, but it has its rewards.

“I think it is important for families to keep up with the holidays to show the children that they are still a family; and just because their soldier is deployed, it does not mean they cannot celebrate together,” said Jennie. “Also, I find celebrating holidays to be a nice way of feeling that connection to our soldier.”

• Date Taken: 06.29.2011
• Date Posted: 06.29.2011 04:34
• Story ID: 72923
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, IQ