By Spc. Christiana Bankole
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Soldiers with the 15th Transportation Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), are continuing to gain the support of their spouses and loved ones stateside as the “Roadwarriors” roll through their eighth month of deployment in support of Operation New Dawn at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.
Some soldiers are fortunate enough to be able to have that support at their side as well. Sgt. William Monroe, a heavy equipment transporter with the 15th Trans. Company, and a Norfolk, Va., native, and Spc. Lisa Monroe, a heavy wheel vehicle operator with the 15th Trans. Company, and a Ozark, Ala., native, married Sept. 18, 2010 , have three children, and serve together in Iraq.
William said the experience of deploying alongside his wife is a blessing he will not take for granted.
“I’m able to be with my loved one during a stressful time and place,” William said. “We’re able to [resolve issues] better face-to-face, [versus] a couple that’s apart because of the deployment.”
Lisa agrees with her husband. Even in a combat zone, their bond is strong.
“No matter what the issue is, or how people perceive our relationship, our love is sustainable anywhere,” Lisa said.
Sgt. Angel Rivera, a heavy wheeled vehicle operator with the 15th Trans. Company, and a Bronx, N.Y., native, and Cpl. Jermeika Rivera, a supply noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the 15th Trans. Company, and a Tallahassee, Fla., native, serve together and have been married since March 18, 2010, and have two children.
Jermeika said she is fortunate to be on the same deployment cycle as her spouse.
“With all these deployments, spouses hardly ever see each other, it would be hard to start a family,” Jermeika said. “Marriages in dual- military couples may be deemed more challenging.”
Staff Sgt. George Warren, a platoon sergeant with the 15th Trans. Company, and a Hampton, Va., native, and Staff Sgt. Antonia Silva-Warren, truckmaster with the 15th Trans. Company, and a Chicago native, have been married since Aug. 7, 2006, and have two children together. One of the lessons the Warrens are taking away from this deployment is appreciation and re-acquaintance.
“I believe being deployed together has brought us much closer,” George said. “Here in combat, we are forced to talk to each other and seek out our issues, and as a result, get to know each other all over again.”
Antonia does contend however, that a lot of maturity and tolerance comes with marriage in combat.
“I would recommend any dual-military couple deploying together if they are mature enough,” Antonia said.
For the dual-status military couples in the 15th Trans. Company, marriage comes with challenges, whether stateside or in Iraq. However, love is a word that goes beyond definition, where vows are equally as important as the Army values in combat.