Photo By Pfc. Susan Blair | IRAQ (Dec. 20, 2006) - Lt. Col. Michael D. Hess, strategic analyst for a Joint Forces...... read more read more
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Pfc. Susan Blair
Task Force 1-73
Dec. 28, 2006
Northern Iraq (Dec. 28, 2006) - Being deployed during the holiday season usually means that there's going to be an absence of Christmas carols, trees, lights and more importantly – family. However, two Soldiers from Task Force 1-73 were able to spend time with family during the holiday and make the season a little merrier.
Lt. Col. Michael D. Hess, a strategic analyst for Joint Forces Command, was able visit with his son, 1st Lt. Michael S. Hess, a rifle platoon leader for Company C, TF-173, during a brief stay where 1st Lt. Hess is stationed in Iraq.
The Hesses weren't the only ones able to spend time together, Staff Sgt. Matthew Jordon, an assistant operations sergeant for Headquarter and Headquarters Troop, TF 1-73, was also able to see his daughter, Pfc. Danielle Berleth, 293rd Military Police Company, 283rd MP Battalion.
Meet the Hesses
After not seeing each other since Labor Day weekend, 1st Lt. Hess and Lt. Col. Hess, from Little Rock, Texas, were able to spend a few days together after reuniting Dec. 20.
Lt. Col. Hess didn't know where his son was living but after asking around, he quickly found him.
"I didn't know exactly when he was coming," said 1st Lt. Hess. "So when (another Soldier) said, 'there's somebody here to see you,' I hadn't done anything wrong in a while, so I figured it was my dad."
A normal Christmas Eve for the Hesses includes a big family get together complete with family fondue. They break out the family photo albums and compare prior Christmases. The family will then finish up the day by going to a Christmas Eve church service followed by opening their gifts.
This year's Christmas is going to be noticeably different in the photo albums.
Due to both Lt. Col. Hess and 1st Lt. Hess's busy schedules their time was limited.
"We hung out whenever we could, he bounced around from time to time," said 1st Lt. Hess.
To anyone who knows the Hesses, it's no surprise that both have influenced each others army careers. Lt. Col. Hess was the reason his son became an army officer. Both went through military training in college and were commissioned upon graduation. Lt. Hess was the reason his father got back into the military.
Lt. Col. Hess had been retired for 12 years before he re-entered the Army. Post 9/11 he tried to get back into the Army, but it wasn't until last year that Lt. Col was actually reactivated.
"I couldn't let my son go to combat when I had never gone myself," said Lt. Col. Hess. "The Soldiers are a lot better now than they were back in 1973."
A Daughter's first army Christmas
When Jordon went to see his daughter graduate from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training last June, he never imagined he would be spending her first Army Christmas with her in Iraq.
For the holidays TF 1-73 allowed Jordon to fly to where his daughter is based in Iraq Dec. 26 to Dec. 27.
For the Jordons, their family Christmases typically involves all four children; Elizabeth, 24; Nathan, 22; Danielle, 21; Francis, 20; coming over to their home.
"My wife puts together a great Christmas dinner," said Jordon. "We still wake up early and the kids still do a rush to the presents."
Jordon and Berleth may have been an ocean away from their family, but they were able to spend some virtual time with them.
"We got online and were able to talk with the rest of the family that were still visiting my wife, and we were able to talk via-e-mail," said Jordon.
Although their Christmas dinner wasn't mom's Christmas feast, it was still special. Jordon was even able to give her a Christmas present in person, which was a holster for her weapon with an ammunition carrier.
Berleth and Jordan spent the rest of their visit catching up on old times, said Jordan.
Though this year Christmas wasn't exactly filled with family fondue or the kids tackling the Christmas tree, the Hesses and Jordon families were all lucky to be given the opportunity to share a little holiday cheer with family.
| Date Taken: | 12.27.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2007 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 8730 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 558 |
| Downloads: | 337 |
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