2008 Woodie Awards
Student Soldiers
By Jessica Rupell
Rocket Focus Editor
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Focus
Acon, who was part of the Company A 28th Signal Battalion, and was attached to the 1st Cav. 13th sig. Bn. as well as the 41st Bde. 2-162 Oregon Army National Guard, said his job at Forward Operating Base Volunteer in Sadr City, Iraq, was working with as a line-of-sight operator, creating secure phone lines for the infantry.
James Schawl, 25, a safety and environmental management major, also had to pause his schooling when he was deployed in 2004.
"Before I went to Iraq, I had five months of training, three at Fort Bliss in Texas and two at Fort Polk, La.," Schawl said.
A part of the Butler 1st-112th Infantry for the Army National Guard, Schawl said he was very nervous before going overseas, but like Acon, said Iraq was nothing like he expected.
"The Iraqi people were very nice," Schawl said. "We would stay at people's houses for a day or two and they would make us breakfast and Chi tea."
He also said that many of the soldiers would get care packages from home and from individuals who would send snacks and goodies in support of the troops.
"We would always get so much candy," Schawl said, "and the (Iraqi) kids would always come up to the Humvees and we would give them candy. It was like a big parade."
For Zachery Majzun, 24, a sophomore finance major who did two tours overseas, his first deployment wasn't much of a surprise.
"With the (topics of the) State of the Union Address in January, it wasn't a big shock that I got orders in February, because everybody saw it coming," Majzun said.
Taken out mid-freshman year from Ohio University in 2002, Majzun spent from April 2003 to April 2004 in Kuwait in three or four different camps, moving every three to four months.
A supply sergeant for the HSC 463d Engineer Combat Batillion, Majzun said Kuwait was sort of what he expected: it was full of deserts.
"Kuwait was just an open desert," Majzun said, "and it was all tent cities."
After returning to the states for five months, Majzun said he was right back out the door to Iraq, where he stayed from November 2004 to December 2005.
James Schawl, 25, a safety and environmental management major, also had to pause his schooling when he was deployed in 2004.
"Before I went to Iraq, I had five months of training, three at Fort Bliss in Texas and two at Fort Polk, La.," Schawl said.
A part of the Butler 1st-112th Infantry for the Army National Guard, Schawl said he was very nervous before going overseas, but like Acon, said Iraq was nothing like he expected.
"The Iraqi people were very nice," Schawl said. "We would stay at people's houses for a day or two and they would make us breakfast and Chi tea."
He also said that many of the soldiers would get care packages from home and from individuals who would send snacks and goodies in support of the troops.
"We would always get so much candy," Schawl said, "and the (Iraqi) kids would always come up to the Humvees and we would give them candy. It was like a big parade."
For Zachery Majzun, 24, a sophomore finance major who did two tours overseas, his first deployment wasn't much of a surprise.
"With the (topics of the) State of the Union Address in January, it wasn't a big shock that I got orders in February, because everybody saw it coming," Majzun said.
Taken out mid-freshman year from Ohio University in 2002, Majzun spent from April 2003 to April 2004 in Kuwait in three or four different camps, moving every three to four months.
A supply sergeant for the HSC 463d Engineer Combat Batillion, Majzun said Kuwait was sort of what he expected: it was full of deserts.
"Kuwait was just an open desert," Majzun said, "and it was all tent cities."
After returning to the states for five months, Majzun said he was right back out the door to Iraq, where he stayed from November 2004 to December 2005.
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Megan Brundage
posted 9/07/07 @ 10:37 AM EST
This story did an excellent job of recognizing the sacrifices of soldiers. I would like to thank them for serving our country and helping to maintain the comforts of daily life. (Continued…)
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