Photo By John Crosby | Indiana National Guard Spc. Douglas Rachowicz, wife Amanda Rachowicz, their son...... read more read more
Subscribe
GARY, Ind., -- Indiana Army National Guard combat engineers of the 713th Engineer Company, 81st Troop Command, returned home to Indiana, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 from a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan.
The soldiers performed route clearance operations. They patrolled Kandahar Province combat and supply routes scanning for roadside bombs allowing Afghan citizens and international forces to operate more safely.
The engineers conducted 371 missions, cleared approximately 14,000 miles of routes in less than a year on ground.
This deadly mission cost the 713th six soldiers who were killed-in-action.
“Their sacrifice saved the lives of countless more,” said commander Capt. Cecil Pendleton III. “They died ensuring the safety of their comrades.”
“My soldiers were phenomenal on the battlefield,” said Pendleton. “They worked and fought as hard as they could the entire deployment. It’s like a burden relieved knowing that we are home safe.”
The soldiers carried out their mission daily in spite of the imminent danger that faced them with each mile of road.
“I made it. We made it. … And I think that was a big question that a lot of us had, if we would make it all the way through,” said Sgt. Clinton Jordan, combat engineer from North Judson, Ind. Jordan was responsible for investigating possible roadside bombs, detonating them and collecting evidence.
“It’s an awesome feeling to be here, to spend time with our families again, to meet our buddies’ families, it’s amazing.”
This was Jordan’s second deployment. He conducted the same route clearance mission in Iraq in 2004.
“They are two different worlds,” Jordan said, describing the ground fight in Iraq in comparison to Afghanistan. “The enemy in Afghanistan is much more determined … much more determined. You have to bring a whole new strategy, a whole new ball game.”
Jordan said the day was bittersweet. As the engineers reunited with their families, the memories of their fallen brothers were strong.
“This is their day,” Jordan said of the fallen. “They definitely strengthened us throughout our tour. They gave us lots of courage. They were watching over us. They were our overwatch.”
Jordan’s lifelong friend, brother-in-arms, and now brother-in-law, Spc. Douglas Rachowicz of Hammond, Ind., was also there to greet him.
Rachowicz was wounded Jan. 6. He was the sole survivor after his vehicle struck a roadside bomb and killed four other soldiers inside.
Jordan was on a team of first responders who initially came to Rachowicz’s aid.
While recovering from a shattered pelvis, two collapsed lungs and a fractured jaw, Rachowicz married Jordan’s sister in May and had a child, Brayden, in August.
It was all smiles and tears as Jordan reunited with Rachowicz for the first time since he was evacuated from the battlefield in January. Rachowicz introduced Jordan to his nephew Brayden for the first time.
“It was very surreal,” said Rachowicz. “We dealt with a lot over there. It’s been a long time coming. It’s like I was disconnected from my brother. Having the family reunited has made me happier that I can actually say.”
As for Jordan, he plans to spend time with his wife and four kids, enjoy a cold beer and eat some good old-fashion American fast food.
| Date Taken: | 09.27.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2012 18:25 |
| Story ID: | 95401 |
| Location: | GARY, IN, US |
| Hometown: | CROWN POINT, IN, US |
| Hometown: | GARY, IN, US |
| Hometown: | HAMMOND, IN, US |
| Hometown: | NORTH JUDSON, IN, US |
| Hometown: | VALPARAISO, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 624 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Indiana Combat Engineers return from Afghanistan, by John Crosby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT