2008 Woodie Awards
Going 6500 miles for coffee
Daily Grind manager welcomes son back home from Iraq
Beau Markut
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Caroline Korhonen, manager of the Daily Grind in the campus center, recently had her son return safely from combat duty in Iraq. Jason Korhonen, son of Caroline, was stationed in Camp NaviStar in Kuwait for the past fourteen months, performing special missions into Iraq primarily as a .50 caliber machine gunner on a Humvee.
Jason's squad of about ten infantry soldiers escorted logistic convoys throughout Iraq on missions with durations anywhere from ten hours to two weeks. "He does not talk much about (his time in Iraq)," said Caroline who saw her son Jason only for two weeks over Christmas break during her son's tour.
"Preparing for his deployment was filled with many emotions," said Caroline, "spanning from happiness and pride then sadness and worry, and it repeated it self through the whole year."
Even though the distance between Sheboygan and Kuwait is about 6500 miles, Caroline still found a way to communicate with her son. "The year did go by relatively fast. Thank God for the Internet, which kept communication open."
Out of the 600 soldiers from Jason's battalion, the 2/127th Charlie company, three were killed in action. As news of soldier's deaths poured in from the media, Caroline held her breath, "The next series of months had its ups and downs until word came that they were coming home in August."
On August 19, two jets returned to Volk field which is near Camp Douglas, WI., each carrying approximately 300 soldiers. Not only were family and friends camped around the air field welcoming home the newly arrived veterans of combat, but local bands and Governor Jim Doyle were also a part of the celebration.
"As the huge plane landed on the ground the co-pilot had the American flag out the front cock-pit window," Caroline remembered, "the crowds were roaring with applause."
After touching down the soldiers filed off of the plane to line up for their final formation from the mission. Each soldier was allowed a three hour visit period on the premises and then were bussed to Camp McCoy for debriefing.
Even after a month of company with Jason, Caroline is still trying to get used to his presence. "Life at home is a readjustment," she said. "We are trying to get back into a normal living routine, and he (Jason) is readjusting to a life where you can come and go as you please."
Jason's squad of about ten infantry soldiers escorted logistic convoys throughout Iraq on missions with durations anywhere from ten hours to two weeks. "He does not talk much about (his time in Iraq)," said Caroline who saw her son Jason only for two weeks over Christmas break during her son's tour.
"Preparing for his deployment was filled with many emotions," said Caroline, "spanning from happiness and pride then sadness and worry, and it repeated it self through the whole year."
Even though the distance between Sheboygan and Kuwait is about 6500 miles, Caroline still found a way to communicate with her son. "The year did go by relatively fast. Thank God for the Internet, which kept communication open."
Out of the 600 soldiers from Jason's battalion, the 2/127th Charlie company, three were killed in action. As news of soldier's deaths poured in from the media, Caroline held her breath, "The next series of months had its ups and downs until word came that they were coming home in August."
On August 19, two jets returned to Volk field which is near Camp Douglas, WI., each carrying approximately 300 soldiers. Not only were family and friends camped around the air field welcoming home the newly arrived veterans of combat, but local bands and Governor Jim Doyle were also a part of the celebration.
"As the huge plane landed on the ground the co-pilot had the American flag out the front cock-pit window," Caroline remembered, "the crowds were roaring with applause."
After touching down the soldiers filed off of the plane to line up for their final formation from the mission. Each soldier was allowed a three hour visit period on the premises and then were bussed to Camp McCoy for debriefing.
Even after a month of company with Jason, Caroline is still trying to get used to his presence. "Life at home is a readjustment," she said. "We are trying to get back into a normal living routine, and he (Jason) is readjusting to a life where you can come and go as you please."
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