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Bloomington-based Guard unit, families prepare for deployment
By M.K. Guetersloh
mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- For the next 400 days, Lindsey Quam will face the day-to-day struggles of raising her two children alone. | Video

Her husband, Lt. Michael Quam, is one of about 20 soldiers from the Bloomington-based Illinois National Guard unit that will be sent to Afghanistan as part of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

A deployment ceremony for the soldiers was Saturday afternoon at Heartland Community College.

For Lindsey Quam, the ceremony brought out her hesitation for her husband to leave. But it’s not the birthdays or the holidays where she will miss her husband the most, she added.

“It’s going to be the little things that we do every day that make us a family of four,” Lindsey Quam said. The couple from Dubuque, Iowa, have two sons, Aiden, 2, and Keegan, 6 months.

“Bath time with the kids will be a struggle without him,” she said. “Holidays we’ll be with family so I’m not worried about that.”

For Pat Grant of Charleston, watching the ceremony for his son, Trevor Grant of Bloomington, was more emotional that he thought.

“I’m proud of him but it is a little overwhelming,” he said.

Grant said he, too, will miss the little things while his son is away.

“I won’t have the ability to see him whenever I want or have dinner whenever,” Grant said. “I’ll miss having the opportunity to talk with him about the things fathers and sons talk about when they’re together.”

The soldiers from the Bloomington unit will join about 2,700 other Illinois Guard members being sent to Afghanistan in the fall. The troops are expected at Fort Bragg, N.C. for training.

Maj. Brad Leighton, a spokesman for the Guard, said during the more than yearlong mission, the Bloomington soldiers will provide military intelligence for force protection for the units within the 33rd Brigade.

“What they will do in theater is save lives,” Leighton said.

Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti and Col. Michael Haerr addressed the soldiers and their families about what is ahead for them.

Celletti called the family members “great patriots” and encouraged family members to work as a group to support each other while their soldiers are away.

Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton called the deployment ceremony a double-edged sword.

“It is heartening to see volunteers who are willing to go off to another country for our protection,” Stockton said. “But on the other hand, it hard to see you leave your families.”

In addition to the Bloomington soldiers, about 350 soldiers from the 634th Brigade Support Battalion were honored at a ceremony Saturday at the Sullivan High School.
Take a look
Troops with the Bloomington based Company B Brigade Special Troops Battalion salute at presentation of the colors during the unit's deployment ceremony at Heartland Community College, Saturday, September 6, 2008. (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
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Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

cats55ire wrote on Sep 7, 2008 11:25 PM:

" to Just a Guy - what's your problem?? "

Just A Guy wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:54 PM:

" Hey, zorro, you're wrong. The community is not obligated to support the families. The families knew/know what they are getting into when their family member is activated. If the family member did not want to go, they wouldn't have signed up. "

KRAMER wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:32 PM:

" to armymom: I know how you feel this will be my sons 4th deployment over all hes been over to the sandbox twice and this will be his second to Afghanistan. He says the only thing that worries him is Obama getting elected. "

SkaterMom wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Thank you to the soldiers and their families! May God bless you and keep you safe. "

armymom wrote on Sep 6, 2008 10:36 PM:

" Lindsey and all the others - remember that we are all so thankful for what your husbands, sons, etc. are doing for our country. My son is currently deployed to Iraq for the 3rd time. He has a wife and 2 children at home. It's never easy, keep the faith and know that you are all in the prayers of many people. "

zorro wrote on Sep 6, 2008 9:36 PM:

" Every soldier knows, that when they take the oath and put on the uniform, the time will come when they must do their duty. 10's of thousands of us have had to do this.
I sincerely hope that they will be safe during their deployment. Our community has an obligation to support the families of these brave men and women, while their loved ones are away. "

cats55ire wrote on Sep 6, 2008 6:52 PM:

" Best of luck to all those serving in our military!!!!

YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS AND WE AWAIT YOUR SAFE RETURN!!!! BE CAREFUL AND GOD SPEED!!! "

republicrat wrote on Sep 6, 2008 6:29 PM:

" Good luck to you brave men and women. You and your families are in my prayers. "
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