Local National Guard soldiers reunited with families after 9-month deployment

Soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard's 835th Engineer Utilities Detachment (835th) recently returned from a 9-month-long deployment to the Middle East.

The 835th left for their deployment on Aug. 13 last year, and since then have completed more than 130 construction missions and 16 "requests for engineer support" on bases throughout the Middle East, including in Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Sergeant 1st Class Reece Thomas, Sergeant Sierra Erickson, both New Rockford natives, and Sergeant Tyler Leichtman, a graduate of NR-S, were among the 53 soldiers who returned home, and they each shared their experience of being overseas with the Transcript.

"It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do," said Erickson, "not so much physically but mentally leaving everything behind, especially your family and everything you love, for an unknown amount of time is extremely difficult.

"On the contrary, seeing and doing things I'll never do again is something not everyone gets to experience in their lifetime," she added. "... time moved so fast some days and slow as it could others. Keeping us busy with jobs and missions really made it what it was."

According to Sgt. Reece Thomas, the 835th provided engineer support to infantry units, conducted escort missions for "local nationals," and provided DPW (department of public works) support between bases.

"We oversaw base security, construction and stuff like that on the bases, so anytime there was a job that was in our realm to do that was troop labor, we supported that," explained Thomas. "We built roads and then just overall vertical engineering, so plumbing, electrical and carpentry."

Thomas also explained that it was rare for the entire 835th to get together while deployed, as they were often spread out across the Middle East while carrying out their respective missions.

"We're expeditionary engineer forces," said Thomas, "so what we do is we grab our tools and grab what we need to get the job done, jump on a plane, fly into an airbase and from there jump on a helicopter and remote travel into the small outposts."

Even though they often found themselves hundreds of miles apart, they all experienced the harsh realities of living and working in the middle of a desert.

"You step off that plane from the U.S. and it's like someone turned on a blow dryer right on your face," recalled Erickson, "and after a while you just get used to it.

"It was hot most days but during their "winter," the 70s felt cold to us!" she added. "Sand gets everywhere, blows all over and everything you owned had sand in it. ... I don't know how people live there. I am a North Dakotan through and through. I'll take -40 anyday."

They also recalled the "little things" that are often taken for granted here in the states, but were greatly missed while deployed in the Middle East. Both Leichtman and Erickson said they just wanted to see something besides sand.

"If you found any green it was patchy weeds and by the time you saw it again the camels had eaten it," said Erickson.

Thomas added, "I just missed the freedom to jump in a vehicle and go see a movie or just run to the grocery store."

But despite all the negatives associated with life in a desert, there was still fun to be had when the time allowed.

Thomas said the USO (United Service Organizations) would often put on bingo and bean bag toss events, and Erickson and Leichtman recalled how they created fun of their own with a few, more interesting, ways of passing the time.

"Some funny things we did were to catch scorpions and try to make cages for them to keep as pets," Erickson recalled. "We had slinkies and made jump ropes and tried to see how many people could jump at once."

They also recalled Leichtman making a swimming pool by having the fire department on base fill a dump truck with water.

More so than anything, however, all three recalled missing their families.

Thomas said he and others were often able to stay in touch with family thanks to wireless internet, and Erickson told of how lucky she was to have family constantly checking up on her despite the 9-hour time difference.

Of course, it was no substitute for the real thing, and all three couldn't wait to make it home to their families. For Erickson, one of the most emotional moments was the plane ride home.

"I cried on the final plane home. I was so anxious," she recalled. "I was so nervous because you anticipate this moment the whole time you're gone and it hits you that it's finally here and it's a lot of emotions."

"As soon as I saw them, my son said my name and I just started crying again. It was one of the best feelings I have ever had. My husband kept telling me I was shaking. Nothing else mattered in that moment as corny as that sounds."

At an awards ceremony following their return to the states, the 835th Engineer Utilities Detachment recognized their soldiers' accomplishments by awarding 47 Army Commendation Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals and 13 Command Coins.

Congratulations to the 835th on a successful deployment and on your safe return home to your families.