March 29, 2024

A lesson in courage, sacrifice

When I was a child I enjoyed writing so much that I developed what my mother said was a “writer’s bump” on my finger where I held my pencil.

I appreciated the act of just writing letters, and I would copy down song lyrics, favorite passages from books and credits of my favorite movies. Later, I would enjoy writing my own stories, both truth and fiction.

I really got into journalism because I liked to write, and I like to tell stories. Later I would enjoy uncovering stories and investigating.

I found my stride somewhere in between writing features and breaking news. I have found some joy, and some hardships, in helping young reporters find their own stride.

I’m often asked what my most memorable experience has been as a journalist. The question again surfaced this week from a college student who emailed me hoping I could help with a class project.

While I’ve met hundreds of fascinating people and heard countless incredible, inspiring, horrifying and tragic stories, one experience clearly stands out above the others.

It was four years ago when I embedded with an Iowa National Guard unit on a training mission before it was deployed to Afghanistan. Members of the media were invited to Camp Ripley in Minnesota where the training occurred before the largest deployment of the Iowa National Guard since World War II.

Nearly 3,000 Iowa soldiers were trained and mobilized.

While reporters were given a firsthand look at the training and preparations for war, we were challenged to prepare the soldiers for media presence as reporters and photographers are often embedded with troops while they are in theater.

The Guard flew us in a Chinook to the training facility, which in and of itself was an amazing experience. I thought at the time maybe that would be the highlight of the trip.

I had prepared for the worst since we weren’t sure how we would be divided among the units upon arrival. We were told there was a possibility of sleeping outdoors, and weather might range from extreme heat to rain. As is often the case for me, I over packed.

I struggled with my bags to the point where one of the soldiers, a young woman, offered to help me. She was dressed in full uniform and already carrying 60 pounds of gear on her.

I would later find out that this same young woman was taking part in the training mission the same weekend her son turned 3. When she deployed to Afghanistan she would leave him, and a 6-year-old daughter at home.

I was also assigned with a senior leader of the platoon who had 20 years of Army experience and several deployments under his belt. At home, he had a wife and six children.

There a number of significant moments I observed during the battle drills — how the soldiers learned from an Afghanistan native who had fought against the Taliban, their hands-on experience in operating a vehicle check point, the meticulous training on improvised explosive devices and how serious a young soldier’s face becomes when he practices the art of loading up fellow soldiers killed in combat.

As it turned out, I needed both the personal side of the their stories and the firsthand experience of watching the realities of war to gain the kind of appreciation I now have for our troops.

I remember visiting with a chaplain who said one of the hardest things for soldiers is keeping focused on their mission. He said that support from home was one of the most critical keys to success.

To this day I have a hard time not thinking about those soldiers and their families. Remembering their sacrifice helps me keep perspective. Not only did they show me what’s it’s like to prepare for war, they uncovered for me what true courage looks like.

Contact Editor Abigail Pelzer at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6530 or apelzer@newtondailynews.com