Oregon’s Newman away from family during holidays while deployed in Iraq

On Christmas morning this year, Oregon resident Jerry Newman watched his family open presents.

But he had to do it via video chat 6,400 miles away with nine hours of time difference. The Army National Guard Col. in the 108th Sustainment Brigade is on his third deployment in Iraq.

“That’s a saving grace,” Newman said. “The thing for me is, I get to see them with a smile on their face. I would think with them, they get to see me. They know I’m alright and everything is OK.”

Jerry and his wife, Angie have four children: Garrett, Nick, Abigail and Andrew. Jerry joined the National Guard through ROTC in 1985. For his first deployment, he went to Iraq for a year in 2005. In 2012, he was in Afghanistan for nine months. This time, he left in August and he’ll return in May.

Back in 2005, the family was able to meet Jerry in Germany over the holidays and spend 17 days with him while deployed. This year was different.

“A lot of people don’t understand that he’s gone and that he’s not coming home for Christmas,” Angie said. “They say, ‘Well, why can’t he come home?’ When he’s deployed, they don’t get that chance. None of them. I think there’s like 46 people on his team and none of those folks can come home.”

A normal day on base in Iraq for Jerry is spent at a tactical operations center. He has two or three teams that go out in the morning and return at night and debrief on what happened and what they saw. And then they do it all over again the next day.

“It’s like Groundhog Day every day,” Jerry said, referencing the 1993 film.

Internet and apps like WhatsApp have made it easier for Jerry to communicate with his family back home. He video chats, calls and texts during hours that work with the time change. But, the internet is controlled by the Iraqi government, and can be shut down to the entire country at their discretion. Recently, it was shut down for a couple of weeks due to protests.

The facility in Iraq is decorated for Christmas. Jerry and his unit held a gift exchange. As far as Christmas gifts for home, Jerry has always tried to buy presents for his family from where he’s deployed to send back, even if there isn’t always much of a selection.

“At least they get something from me that they know I’m thinking about them,” Jerry said.

Two of Jerry’s children, Garrett (25) and Abigail (22) have decided to follow in their father’s footsteps.

Garrett is a 1st. Lt. in the Air Force. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado. He’ll be finishing his pilot training in January and could be deployed in the months that follow. Growing up, he wanted to be like his dad. He just wanted to fly instead of walking around.

Abigail has followed her father’s footsteps even more than her brother has. Like Jerry, she joined ROTC and then the Illinois National Guard. She’s also on the officer path, just like him.

Abigail and Jerry do a lot of the same physical training tests. They text back and forth to see who scored higher. Being in the same unit as her father, Abigail had to tell people not to treat her differently because of who her dad is.

“They’re big shoes to fill, but it’s a good challenge,” Abigail said. “I’d like to pass him up eventually.”

“I’m extremely proud of all my kids,” Jerry said. “But to see that they chased their dreams and are actually succeeding at them, that was more rewarding than anything else. I’m amazed by all of them every day. But there’s no greater purpose than serving your country.”

Angie wasn’t surprised or upset by her children joining the military. It’s just what she’s used to, and she knows how proud they are of their dad. Jerry refers to Angie as the real “trooper” of the family and as the one that holds everything together. Until May.

“That’s the highlight of being home, is the day I arrive back in Illinois when I actually get to put eyes on them and hug them,” Jerry said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to most.”