Michigan soldiers prepare for war missions

Overseas rotations go on as new strategy looms, critics call for total withdrawal

Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News

As a retiree from the Michigan National Guard, Amy Kehoe understands the military duty that her husband and son feel as they prepare for deployment to the Middle East this month.

But as a mother and wife, she is unable to dwell on the upcoming departure of her husband, who is leading a team of Michigan soldiers to Afghanistan, and her son, 20, who will go to Iraq for the first time.

It is especially difficult to bid farewell to the two men in her home around the holidays, even though she has done this before.

"I try not to think about it too much, otherwise I would probably cry a lot," said Kehoe, who lives in Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula. "I told my son already, 'Have faith in your abilities. Be aware of your surroundings. Put God first.' I hope they both come back OK."

Michigan military personnel are continuing their regular rotation as President Barack Obama gets ready to outline his new war strategy, expected to include sending more troops, in a speech Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has advocated for an increase in the number and capability of Afghan forces before considering more U.S. combat troops.

Meanwhile, local peace advocates say that all troops should be withdrawn. Some point to the recent tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, when 12 soldiers and one civilian were killed and dozens more wounded. The suspected gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, reportedly opposed the wars and was upset about his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

"He didn't want any more troops going overseas because he saw the consequences," said Kim Bergier, a Madison Heights resident who participates in weekly peace demonstrations in Ferndale. "Maybe this could be the tipping point to help the Obama administration understand the consequences -- not just the deaths but also the amount of post-traumatic stress syndrome of the troops."

But Michigan National Guard Sgt. First Class John Post said Hasan is an anomaly among soldiers, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have protected Americans since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"America's (military) reaction after 911 have kept Americans sleeping safely in their beds for years," said Post, who served in Afghanistan last year.

Major Kurt Kehoe, who will be going for his third tour of duty, is excited about his Afghanistan mission. He will lead a team of a dozen Michigan National Guard soldiers and will work with Latvians to train the Afghan National Army on patrolling tactics, engagement techniques with weapons, artillery support and mortar use.

"Our goal is to create an army that is self-sustaining and self-supporting so they can have a functioning defense force in their country," said Kehoe, who has been training with the soldiers at Camp Grayling. "We'll have an opportunity to teach another foreign military and make a change in their lives."

Though the team won't land in Afghanistan until March, it is departing Sunday for more training in Fort Polk, La. It will then travel to Latvia before landing in Afghanistan. The team will be out of the United States for 11 months.

"We're all soldiers and we've all done this before," Kehoe said. "Our families are preparing for it. That's something you come to understand when you are married and in a military family."

kkozlowski@detnews.com (313) 222-2024