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Military Family

Jan-31-2009 » Filed Under: 56th SBCT

The Lebanon Daily News has a nice column written by Cindy Small, whose husband, son and son-in-law all deployed with the 56th SBCT.

The 56th Stryker Brigade was created, and we knew that activation for deployment was in the future. So, I prepared the best I could for this, wishing my husband could retire instead of going to Iraq. (He will be eligible while he is in Iraq).

So, on Sept. 19, I kissed my husband good-bye, and on Sept. 22, I said good-bye to my son and my son-in-law. Yes, all the men in our family are with the Stryker Brigade. My husband is with Co. B 328 BSB from Philadelphia; my son in law is with Co. C 1/111 Infantry Batallion from Kutztown. Our son, Tom Jr., is attached to that unit, and it is comforting to know he is with his brother-in-law.

Seven weeks before he was deployed, my son and his wife separated. I not only take care of my house, bills and cars, but I am in charge of his house, cars and bills. I did nothing but cry for several weeks as the stress was 150 percent. Our daughter ended up supporting me and helping me get organized to deal with the extra things I must do. She knew I was upset about her brother and worried about his state of mind. The guys are so patriotic that my son refused to be removed from the list to stay home. My son-in-law has a flag tattooed on his back, and their home phone rings a patriotic song. We both have the “blue-star flag” proudly displayed in our window and tell everyone about “our boys.”


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