Soldier sends love from Iraq for Christmas

By Rob Ginter - Staff Writer

Staff Sergeant Michael Dement is in the Morehead-based Kentucky Army National Guard 301st Chemical Company and is currently serving on his third deployment and second tour in Baghdad, Iraq.

Dement spends his days and nights serving with the rest of the Morehead men and women stationed in the Forward Operating Base ‘Prosperity’ in the International zone of the war torn country.

Dement was interviewed by The Morehead News over ‘Skype’ which is an application that allows you to make voice calls through your computer. He is quick to point out what keeps him going.

“Obviously my main source of comfort is the Lord. I couldn’t do anything without him,” Dement said. “And just knowing I have so much support from my family and friends to come home to that keeps me going. I have to trust that the Lord is going to watch over me and rely that my training is going to kick in. Worrying is not going to help but it’s being prepared for any situation. As a section leader the level of responsibility I have keeps me very busy.”

Dement is a shift or section leader in the 301st that is providing security detail to United Nation officials.

“There are various officials from the UN and it’s our job to protect them as they go out into the Red Zone outside of the International Zone,” Dement said. “It’s our job to take them anywhere they want to go in Baghdad.”

“Morale (in the Morehead group) is as good as could be expected,” Dement said. “We’re over halfway through the deployment but we’re still far enough away from coming home that no one is overly excited. You get to this point in the deployment where stress gets to you a little more and everyone is just doing their jobs.

“As the U.S. draws down (in Iraq) the importance of the UN missions increase greatly and we’re staying busy taking them places,” Dement said.

“Missions go out all different times of the day,” Dement said. “It’s the same job everyday but rarely do you go to the same place two days in a row.

“Some days we have a day off, others we may have missions 8 to 9 days in a row and then possibly two days off. There are so many officials at the UN that have so many ministries and organizations in Iraq. You’ve got UN and Iraq officials linking up together in several different ministries and on the Iraqi side it’s hard to plan for it.”

Where he lays his head most nights is a part of two-men housing units that used to be part of the palace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

“Our living conditions are pretty great especially compared to the last tour,” Dement said. “The chow hall DFAC (dining facility) is great, the gym is well-equipped. Nothing is too far to walk to from the living area. I have a real bed this time.

“I’ve been at some venues (in the country) that are very hospitable and other venues are sometimes uncooperative,” Dement said. “It just depends where you go.

“This not being my first time, it was strangely too familiar,” Dement said. “A lot had changed but a lot was the same as far as culture. It’s hard to interact with people off such a different culture.”

As for the weather in Iraq…

“It gets up to about 125 degrees in the summer,” Dement said. “In the winter there’s a high normally in the 60s with lows in the mid to lower 40s to mid 40s with sporadic rainfall.

According to Dement, he had the opportunity to meet Aaron Tippin and Angelina Jolie during this time around in Iraq.

The Kentucky Army National Guard unit based in Morehead left for Iraq in April 2009 and Dement expects the unit to return in the spring of 2010 but until then he has this message for those awaiting his return:

“This deployment has caused me to appreciate everyone at home like never before. My wife Faith has been amazing. She has not ceased to show her love, support and encouragement every day I've been away. Faith, I love you with all my heart. My parents, sisters, grandparents and in-laws are the best anyone could ask for. I love and miss you all! I also have a special appreciation for my close friends and my Grace Assembly of God church family. I don't believe that many men have such a support group to return home to. I am truly humbled by God’s blessings in my life. To all my family and friends, I love, miss and appreciate you all.”
-Michael Dement

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