Jeff

Hero's Journey

Date: Thursday Jan. 3, 2008
M-Day + 62
Days until REFRAD: 337
Location: Camp Beuhring, Kuwait
High Temp: 70F
Status: Training

Meet Hero.  He is currently on his third deployment to Iraq and will have served nearly three years there when he's finally done. I mentioned him before and it's about time I told a little more about him.

Hero is the guardian angel to Minnesota Army Band members and alumni.  He was first presented by Sandy Kramer to Kathy Nieters (below, right), the first veteran of the 451st Army Band to deploy to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  She served in an engineer unit supporting the 1st Cavalry Division and returned safely.

In 2005 Sandy's not-yet husband, Travis, was unexpectedly transferred from the band to deploy as a supply NCO in a maintenance unit, a job he had not trained in for over 20 years. We were all shocked.  But Travis answered the call, though not before he and Sandy got married. They are pictured below at their wedding, with Bea Jaeger and Kathy Nieters.

Travis returned safely in late 2006 and Hero took a break from guarding us foolish musicians.  When I was notified of my upcoming mobilization last year Sandy arranged a gathering of the 451st at the Fort Snelling Club where Hero was presented to me in a ceremony.  First Kathy, then Travis, told a little bit about their deployments, and it was hard not to get a bit choked up when Travis described how much it meant to have Hero watching out for him.

Ian and Carter liked Hero so much we had to get them their own Army bears.  Ian has a clone of Hero, while Carter has a new ACU-wearing bear named Salute.

So now it's my turn to be under Hero's care.  I'm honored that he's with me, and I thank Sandy, Travis, Kathy, and the members and alumni of the 451st who have given their support.  I look forward to seeing and playing with them again when I return.

Edit:  451st member and fellow trombonist, Fish, posted some pictures from the October gathering at the Fort Snelling Club.  Thanks, Fish!

Posted by Jeff at January 3, 2008 7:20 AM