As the war in Iraq and its aftermath unfolded on TV, in newspapers and magazines and on the Internet, Americans left in the States grew increasingly aware of its reality through personal connections with those serving overseas.

From Orlando to over there

Jonathan Rosenau, son of Guidance secretary April Rosenau, is in the Army National Guard and was serving in Jordan with the 124th Infantry according to the letter his mother received from him on March 15. He is now “rumored” to have moved from Jordan to Iraq, but at press time, his exact whereabouts are uncertain.

“At that point, the war had not broken out yet, and they were tired of playing game boys, sleeping and playing soccer,” April Rosenau said. “We had been getting letters about every three days, but the letter on the 15th said that the mail would start to come a lot slower.”

She was excited to receive a call from her son on April 8 as well.

“He called to wish me a happy birthday,” she said.

Jonathan, a 1997 Lincoln graduate, joined the Army National Guard two years ago. The Guard is helping pay for his college education at the University of Central Florida, where, if not for the war, he would have graduated in May. He received his call to duty the day after Christmas.

“He went to Ft. Stewart for some training for about six weeks or so, and in February they went out there,” his mother said.

April Rosenau, whose husband is in the military, is familiar with the anxiety of having a loved one away from home. The family does not know when Jonathan is scheduled to return.

“My husband was called away a couple of times; I’m not sure that makes it any better, though,” she said.

A close call

A 2002 graduate, Ben Pridgeon signed with the Marine Corps on March 15 of his senior year. He left for boot camp on June 24.

“I joined because I had a strong feeling that God wanted me there, even though I had no interest in being in the military,” Pridgeon said.

He spent 13 weeks at Parris Island Recruiting Depot (boot camp) in South Carolina, where, according to Pridgeon, “the first two weeks were designed to break us down and deter us from our usual habits and routines. After that, the focus was on building us into disciplined soldiers.”

Three weeks of infantry training (required of all Marines) followed, after which Pridgeon was sent to his specialty school, where he began training in Amphibious Assault Vehicle Repair, or AAV Mech. He was assigned to a unit of about 150 Marines with an average age of 23.

“Currently I’m the lowest on the totem pole of mechanics,” he said.

Pridgeon’s unit left for Iraq on Feb. 17, with plans to “transport 18 infantry men at a time to the front lines of battle.” As a part of the unit, he was originally scheduled to go overseas.

“My family and friends alike were all worried about me having to be over there, but I was prepared, and had a peace about it,” he said.

However, because he had not yet finished specialty school at the time of the unit’s departure, Pridgeon was required to remain in the States.

“My initial feelings about not being sent were that I was out of place, and that I should be over there with my ‘brothers,’” he said. “Now that time has passed, I still feel like I should be over there, but I’m content with living in America until I’m needed.”

Because information concerning events overseas is “all pretty classified,” it is difficult for Pridgeon to know exactly what his unit is doing.

His faith continues to sustain him. As of now, Pridgeon plans to earn a degree from the University of North Florida, go to a seminary and become an evangelistic youth speaker.

“God has taught me so much over the past nine months, giving me a better outlook on life and the daily issues one goes through,” he said. “God has a plan for me, and I know that as long as I’m obedient to Him, He will show me the way.”

Transportation is key

Student-turned-soldier Aaron Jensen, who graduated in 2001, is a member of the Army National Guard. Jensen was called into action on Jan. 3 and is currently located at Camp Arif-Jan, south of Kuwait City. His mother, Debbie Jensen, supported his decision to join the military.

“I think he, like a lot of other guys, thought it would be a good experience, a chance to see the world, to stay in shape (since he was a football player),” Debbie Jensen said. “But it also gave him a chance to attend college and get a higher education degree.”

Aaron serves in the Transportation Unit, where “they are in charge of all vehicles from cars to tanks,” in addition to being responsible for the safety of the base. He currently guards an ammunition bunker on the 11 p.m.-7 a.m. shift. “They also transport soldiers to anywhere they need to go,” his mother said. Aaron is expected to return home in July.

Though army life is tough, there is leisure time as well. While at Ft. Stewart, Aaron could go bowling, watch movies or work out. In Kuwait, he listens to CDs and reads. Aaron communicates with his family through e-mail, phone calls and letters and packages (though they take about two weeks to be delivered).

On the home front

Juniors Julie Chlopan and Kim Uzzell have taken on the task of leading an effort to collect needed items and mail them to Lincoln graduates in the military who are stationed overseas. The project was suggested to Chlopan, the National Honor Society’s president-elect, by sophomore J.P. Grimes. Thinking it would make a good service project for NHS, Chlopan mentioned it to Uzzell, a band member.

“She said, ‘Band is doing the same thing!’ so we decided to make it a big project altogether,” Chlopan said. The Key Club also agreed to participate.

Collection boxes were set up between April 21 May 9. Students were asked to donate nonperishable items. The clubs will package these items and mail them to the addresses provided by students – addresses of Lincoln alumni as well as students’ friends and relatives. Students are encouraged to give the addresses of soldiers they know to Chlopan or Uzzell.

“We only have about five names so far,” Chlopan said, adding that NHS plans to include any extra items in the packages and specify that they are for members of the designated soldier’s squadron. Students will also be collecting spare change to help with the cost of shipping the packages.

The feedback the project has received so far has been positive.

“I think everyone wants to do a little bit to help,” Chlopan said. “We’re not looking for 80,000 boxes of stuff – just a couple of things from each person.”