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 Albion
Guard Unit Deployed
It was hard for Bridges4Kids Technology Directory and
webmaster, Jackie Igafo-Te'o, to say goodbye to her husband
Billy as he left for at least six months of active duty. She
is losing more than a spouse. Billy is her day-to-day partner
as they struggle to raise their nine-year-old son, Michael,
who has autism, as well as their two other children, Melody
and Sebastian. "Michael can be difficult to
handle," Jackie explained, "but he responds to his dad.
I don't know how I will manage without Billy."
by Christine Iwan, The Battle Creek Enquirer, December 4,
2003
For more articles like this
visit
https://www.bridges4kids.org.
ALBION --
Christina Milligan was wrapped in the arms of her new husband,
Spc. Casey Milligan, Wednesday outside of Albion's Michigan
National Guard Armory.
The Nashville couple, who had been married just 10 days, would
soon be separated for more than half a year as 81 reserve
soldiers from the 119th Field Artillery Battalion left for a
six-month deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Milligan, 21, and his older brother, Spc. Nick Milligan, 23, of
Hastings were both part of the 200-soldier mobilization
Wednesday from bases in Albion, Alma, Lansing and Port Huron.
This is the first deployment for the Albion base since World War
II, said Staff Sgt. Ron Raflik, a Guard spokesman,
"She's got to remember, I'm not gone forever," Casey Milligan
said about his tearful bride.
Casey and Nick Mulligan were surrounded by their siblings and
mother, who came to Albion to see them off. Their mother, Lynda
Wells, said it'll be hard for the wives, but she knows the news
could have been worse.
"I'm grateful they're going to Guantanamo Bay rather than
someplace else," she said.
While these soldiers are part of the field artillery battalion,
they will serve in a security capacity while in Cuba. They will
train at Fort Dix in New Jersey before being shipped to Cuba
after the first of the year.
The United States holds about 660 prisoners from 44 countries at
the base in eastern Cuba. More than 100 prisoners will be
released from U.S. custody at the detainment camp in Guantanamo
Bay and more will follow, military officials said earlier this
week.
Leaving was as hard for longtime couples as it was for
newlyweds. Spc. Bill Igafo-Te'o and his wife Jackie of
Jackson found a little time alone time in the hours before he
left.
While he was keeping a sense of humor, his wife said it would be
hard on her and her three children, 10, 9 and 7, for
Igafo-Te'o to be away for so long. This is especially true
for their middle child, who is autistic and responds more to his
father than anybody else, she said.
"It's hard on the kids," she said. "I don't want to cry yet
because I don't want them to see me upset."
While she's been handed the head of the household, at least
until his return scheduled for July, Igafo-Te'o knows
he's just a click away from his family.
"Thank goodness for e-mail," he said.
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