Back to Iraq on the Fourth of July

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a series of periodic stories on Central Washington families with members serving in Iraq with the Army National Guard's 81st Brigade.

Never mind spending their wedding anniversary together. Sergio and Laurel Cervantes are lucky if they are on the same continent, thanks to military training or overseas deployment.

But Laurel doesn't mind the sacrifice. She accepts the fact that her husband is serving the country.

"He woke up the morning after 9/11 and said, 'I'm going to join the military' and I said, 'OK, let's join the military,' " Laurel Cervantes said.

Sergio Cervantes is now a staff sergeant in the Washington Army National Guard's 81st Brigade. The brigade is due back in August from its second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cervantes, 40, was also on the 2005 deployment.

On a day most Americans will be celebrating their freedom with barbecues and fireworks, he was scheduled to head back to the Middle East today following a 15-day leave that started with unplanned layovers in Kuwait and Germany.

Such is the life of the military family. Cervantes praises his wife for taking on the responsibility of caring for the couple's two children and handling the rest of the household responsibilities while he is gone.

"When I joined, she basically did too because she has to go through it all with me," Cervantes said earlier in an online chat with the Yakima Herald-Republic from Iraq.

"I think that the spouses that stay home to continue on with all the day to day with the kids and life have it harder then we do when deployed. We at least know what is going on, and they are in the dark."

The interview was interrupted by a sandstorm, a common problem during Iraq's winter.

Laurel Cervantes has endured the same communication glitches, but at least they have more contact this time than during the last deployment.

Computers with Internet and video connections have been more available this time.

Laurel Cervantes says she has focused on caring for the family, knowing that her husband is a competent soldier surrounded by a solid unit. He serves with the Puyallup-based A Troop of 1st Squadron, 303rd Calvary Regiment.

Spc. Sam Stone, who served with the 303rd's C Troop, was killed in a noncombat accident when the Humvee he was riding in rolled over. The Port Orchard man was the 81st's only casualty so far, down from 10 during the last tour.

Cervantes said Iraq shows signs of improving since the 81st's last deployment -- the cities are cleaner, trash is getting regularly picked up and more highways have guardrails.

"You can tell they are taking pride back in their country," he said, adding, "The Iraqis are ready for their country to be theirs."

While Cervantes was on leave, Iraqi forces took control of major cities, part of the planned sequence for Americans to withdraw by 2011.

Despite improvements, war remains a dangerous occupation.

"You don't know when you go outside the wire whether it's going to be an easy mission or things are going to happen. You just don't know," Cervantes said.

Since the 81st arrived in Iraq, the soldiers have primarily been conducting convoy security, with missions lasting from several hours to nearly a week. Cervantes' unit has making trips from its base in Al Asad in northern Iraq throughout the country.

Other squads have had vehicles destroyed by bombs or other means.

"We've been fortunate in that we've been finding them instead of them finding us," Cervantes said about his squad.

He said he enjoys the camaraderie and brotherhood of the military -- knowing that somebody else is there to back you up. Two years ago, he joined the Washington State Patrol as trooper, finding that same connection.

With eight years of military service behind him, he now plans to stay in for 20 years in hopes of securing retirement medical benefits. He's already applied to attend officer candidate school, which would see him promoted to second lieutenant upon graduating.

Cervantes and his family spent his leave mostly at home in Grandview. He values a game of checkers or some driveway basketball more than a big trip. There will be time for that once he's back. He's missed a year of his kids' lives -- his daughter starting playing basketball while he was gone -- but he accepts the time away as part of larger commitment to his family and his flag.

"I get to serve my country and at the same time set an example for my son and daughter," he said. "We have to stand for something we believe in, whether it's what I do or what they decide to do later in life."

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.

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