ENT101

An hour intomy fall break, my boyfriend gota phone call from his Army squad leader. We were driving to visit my brother and his family. My boyfriend sounded sturdy on the phone, but the expression on his face was one I had never seen before. Not one of apprehension, he is the strongest person I know, but one of fear of the unknown. "Emergency deployment" is notsomething anyone who has loved ones inthemilitary wants tohear, especially when only three months notice is given Personally,I felttorn and stared outthewindow formost ofthetrip I wanted him tostay forselfish reasons; some being that ourrelationship was still young and I felt the Army was stealing him from me On the other hand, I knew he would be over there doing what he loves.How selfish of me would it be tomake him stay when he is so unselfish ingiving hislife toserve others? He did nottalkabout it for weeks afterthat initial phone call. Then reality hitwith thetraining, the immunizations and thefamily preparedness meeting,which I could not sit through with dryeyes.If only there was such a thing as Deployment 101, buteveryone copes differently Some girlswere making theirguys marry them, some couples were getting pregnant on purpose sothey would make more money, but I wanted none ofthat.I wanted him togo and come back inone piece, sothen ourfuture could continue where we leftoff. I know I willhave tohelp him feelsafeagain when he comes back,butthat is just me doing my civilianduty.

Since that phone call, we hug tighter, laugh more and worry less. I know that he is safer inIraq within God's willthan he is inAmerica outside ofGod's will. When he returns ina year, thepride I willhave formy Soldier will far outweigh a mere year spent apart.After all, what is one year compared toeternity? StorybyDanielle Talbert.photographs by Jordan Crossingham and Joel Coleman, (for more on soldiers see page 193)

NBOUND MY COVER REMAINS, THE PAGES ARE

STILL IN PROGRESS. I WRITE NOT REVISIONS

TO ANOTHER'S STORY BUT BY FAITH I WRITE

EACH WORD ANEW. EACH PHRASE IS A

OF A PURSUIT NOT MY OWN TOWARDS THE S MY STORY.