Sacrifice on the home front

Hutto family endures absence of military parents

The family of a Hutto man currently deployed to Iraq is trying to make due in his absence. But carrying on with business as usual is complicated by the fact that his wife is also away from home on military duty.

Army Sergeant Jacques Edmond, 30, is part of the 5-82D Field Artillery Brigade Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, currently deployed to Iraq. His wife, Jamie, 26, also in the Army, is currently stationed in San Antonio where she is being trained in medical support.

The couple have left their three children in the care of Jamie’s mother, Denise DeVoe, while they are both away on active military duty.

DeVoe, who moved to Texas last year “to be supportive of (her) children and grandchildren,” said she is glad she can help her family through this trying time and thinks of Jacques like one of her own.

“He’s like a son to me,” DeVoe said.

Jacques and Jamie have been married for eight years. Jacques was in the armed forces when they married, and Jamie joined the Army about a year ago.

“I think she joined up to be part of his life,” DeVoe said. “She’s proud to be in the military and serving. I’m proud of her. My worst nightmare is for her to tell me they’re deploying a medical unit and she has to go to Iraq.”

Their father’s deployment, combined with their mother’s current assignment in San Antonio, has not been easy on the couple’s children.

The Edmonds’ son James, 6, did not agree with the Army’s deployment of his father.

“I didn’t want him to go back,” James said.

Jenaya, 7, echoes that sentiment.

“I didn’t really want him to go because I wanted to spend more time with him,” she said.

Edmond was among the first American soldiers sent to Iraq in 2002 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“The first time he went, I cried all the time,” DeVoe said. “The last time, I didn’t even want to say goodbye.”

Edmond was deployed to his current 460-day tour June 12.

DeVoe knows the next 14 months won’t be easy on her grandchildren. Adjusting to the reality of having one parent at war and the other away from home has not been easy them.

“It’s very tough on military families with deployments,” DeVoe said.

James had nightmares for two weeks when his dad left, she said, but notes that the children are handling the situation well.

“I think the kids are well-adjusted considering both parents are in the military,” she said. “They know their parents love them.”

DeVoe said her son-in-law stays in touch via email and the occasional phone call, though she says the calls can never be often enough.

Despite the absence of both parents, DeVoe says her grandchildren are getting by.

“I pray for my mom and dad every night,” James said. “(My dad) is the best dad. I love him so much and I miss him.”