Military mom shares hope for the holidays

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Last year, brothers Roger, Jon and Greg Heinrich, all serving in the U.S. Army, were able to be home for Christmas. This year, two of the brothers are in Iraq for the holidays. -Staff photo by Taylor

December 25, 2003 -- Debra Wolfram must have known there would be Christmases like this - when her sons would be far away from home. As young boys, they were often "playing army," running around in camouflage clothes, carrying toy guns, and centering their military manuevers around an old chicken coop.

This holiday season, two of Wolfram's sons are in Iraq on active duty with the U.S. Army.

She joins other military families who are spending the holidays separated from loved ones. For Wolfram, this is her family's first Christmas apart, but she said her sons are there (Iraq) for a reason; and her faith, family and friends have helped her continue with her everyday life.

This Christmas, Wolfram and two of her sons - one who was discharged from the U.S. Army in November and another who is too young to join - will celebrate at home in La Grange, and think of their other two sons and brothers in Iraq.

Wolfram's two oldest sons, Roger Heinrich, 23, and Greg Heinrich, 22, joined the U.S. Army on the same day about four years ago, with Jon Heinrich, almost 21, following close behind them.

Although it was somewhat of a shock to see them all leaving for the military, Wolfram said the boys had played "army" since childhood, even recruiting the youngest brother, Ryan Heinrich (now 15) into their games.

Growing up, Wolfram was the daughter of a director of the local Ag Soil Conservation Service (ASCS), and was reared on a farm in Fayette County.

Her sons enjoyed the rural area, and often used the open spaces and an old chicken coop at their "army hut."

Often, Wolfram would come home to calls from her neighbors who would report the latest "happenings." Usually, this meant the boys were jumping off the roof, using sheets for parachutes and pillows for the landing. They had imaginary battles and always seemed to gang up on Ryan, since he was the youngest and had little say in decisions.

Laughing, Wolfram said her mom had told her that boys could learn to cook, clean and do laundry "just like girls," so she taught her boys to take a time-out from their "army" ventures and help with the domestic daily chores.

"The basic training drill sergeant was nothing compared to you, Mom!" she recalled her sons saying after they completed military basic training.

Wolfram's 22-year-old son Greg completed his tour of duty in the fall. He had been with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq, working with the 4th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He was part of a team of soldiers responsible for detecting land mines, among other duties.

Roger, 23, is an Army sergeant with the 101st Airborne Division, 501st Signal Battalion, and should be coming home to the states in February.

Jon's rank is Corporal, and he serves as a military paralegal in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, part of the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad.

Wolfram recalled that the first few weeks her "boys" were deployed to Iraq were the hardest.

"I didn't sleep for two weeks. Not knowing where they were or what was happening ... no e-mails or phone calls was hard," she remembers.

Today, she said she hears from one of her sons by e-mail, most days. And, she, along with a sister, recently visited with Roger when he was in Nashville for a specialized training (but has since returned to Iraq.) She said all he wanted to eat was steak! As for boiled eggs, rice and hard candy ... those are items Roger said he never plans to eat, again, once he returns home! (The soldiers have had a lot of these foods while in Iraq.)

Wolfram said the outpouring of support from local citizens has been wonderful, including sending packages and letters to the guys. On the bases in Iraq, the soldiers are treated to first-run movies, and most have access to computers and some television, even though most are housed in tents.

A number of schoolchildren have written to Roger, and he reiterated reading a note from an elementary student who said, "You are my hero."

Wolfram said many teachers keep in touch with her sons, too.

It's this kind of support that makes waiting for her sons to return home, safely, easier, she added.

"They are there for a good cause. If I should lose a son, I'll know there was a reason, but I have a strong faith in God and know the boys have had guardian angels all their lives," smiled Wolfram.

As for the sons ... serving in the military has made them more mature, more aware of patriotism and given them more pride in the United States and our way of life, explained Wolfram. Each has expressed their willingness to die for our country, she said, and seeing how people in Third World countries live has been an eye-opener for them.

Once all Heinrich men return to civilian life, they have plans to attend college. The lessons they've learned, and the people and places they've seen, will be forever etched in their minds and hearts, added their mother.

One thing Wolfram isn't worried about is sending Ryan to the military; she said after all the "torture" the older three gave him playing "army" years ago, he has no desire to join!