Families come armed with questions, concerns

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Staff Sgt. James Crawford and his wife, Dawn, go over information about services for families at a special open house for Schofield Barracks soldiers preparing for yearlong missions. With them is daughter Grace, 2 1/2 months. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It's something you never think about," said Meyer, 35, a family practice physician. "It's something you never want to think about — but now you have to. If I'm over in Iraq and something happens to my wife, then we have to have the power of attorney assigned to someone to care for our three children here.

"We're also here to set appointments to have our wills updated."

Such were the weighty thoughts of those who visited an open house at the Army's family resource center, where nearly two dozen organizations provided information about services available before, during and after 8,000 Schofield soldiers head for Iraq and Afghanistan for yearlong missions beginning early next year.

"This is a special open house that was set up for just the deployment," said Brian Dougherty, deputy chief of Army Community Services. The forum allows families to have questions answered on such things as finances, welfare, housing, health concerns and legal matters, he said.

Marie Meyer and the couple's three children will remain at Schofield. Although the family went through deployment and separation in 1988, when Joel Meyer was sent to Kuwait, this time Marie Meyer admits the level of concern has escalated.

"I watch the news a lot, and I'm worried that he's not coming home," she said. "But I'm also very proud of him. I know he'll do a great job and that he knows what he is doing."

Stacy Gonifas, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Stephen Gonifas, will be going to Afghanistan while she returns to Nebraska with the couple's two children, ages 3 and 7, said she found the open house reassuring.

"I had questions, because rumors had been flying around for weeks, before he even got his orders," she said. "And every single question I had has been answered here today. I have all the names, numbers and contacts I need."

For Staff Sgt. James Crawford, 32, who was with his wife, Dawn, 30, and 2 1/2-month-old baby, Grace, getting things ready for his family had become routine.

Marie Meyer, right, works on legal documents with Army attorney 1st Lt. Duane Kees, who, along with Meyer's husband, Maj. Joel Meyer, will be deployed with the 25th Infantry Division next year. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

His wife also has been at it awhile.

"My dad was in the military," said Dawn Crawford, who was born in Japan. "I'm from everywhere. This is a way of life. I actually get excited when it's time to move, wondering where we're going to go next."

In this instance, the move will be back to Yorktown, Va., where there's family.

For some, however, the experience was new and a little scary.

Spc. Joshua Breault, 25, and his wife, Hilary, 24, carried their 22-day-old baby, Jaden, from table to table collecting as much information as they could handle.

"My main concern is, number one — I don't want him to go," said Hilary Breault. "But otherwise, I'm concerned about storing household goods and getting them to where I'm going. I plan on going home to Manchester, New Hampshire. It'll be easier. I've got family there, lots of baby sitters."

"I'm ready to go to Iraq," Joshua Breault said. "My worry is I don't want to get caught in the crossfire of the convoys, but that's about it. I'll be doing convoys, back and forth. And that's what they're hitting."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8038.