The Other Half of the Battle for our Troops

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Last 5 posts in Bucs Life

• Significance over Seniority - May 19th, 2010
• Anchors Away - April 29th, 2010
• Spring Break '10: Staying Local - April 13th, 2010
• “Aspirin’” to be a Hero - March 1st, 2010
• Recycle... It's Our Future - February 22nd, 2010

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November 4, 2009 • Amanda Turner  
Filed under Bucs Life

            Peter Wojihowski, Kurt Hammond, and Jason Shoemaker. Three men who are a part of the United States Forces that are dedicated to the protection and happiness of countless hearts in times of need. If any of these names sound familiar to you, it is quite possible you know their family members. Peter Wojihowski is the proud father of Mallory, Madison, and Morgan Wojihowski. Mallory and Maddy are sophomore twins and Morgan is enjoying life as a senior this year. Squadron Commander Peter Wojihowski has been involved with the U.S. Flight Field for 23 years, during which he has had to leave for three months in 2004,and then again for four months early in the year 2009. Maddy says that, “The house gets happier when he comes back because we get along better with my dad, and just the fact that he’s around makes everything better.” Unfortunately, family ties are always strained and tested with every leave and absence. This commander is scheduled to return back to duty in two years, remaining away from his family for a total of 365 days, or one whole year. Regardless of the distance, Maddy informs us that she is still very close to her dad and admires what he does for his country.

These brave fighters of the peace sacrifice things unthinkable for people like you and me. For example, sophomore Kaila Hammond’s father is Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kurt Hammond. He is a technical officer for the United States and specializes in aviation. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond were both stationed in Germany when they first met and married two months later. While still in Germany, Kaila’s older sister, Kara, was born two years later. At that time however, CW5 Kurt Hammond was stationed in the middle of the Iraqi Desert for the famous Desert Storm War while Sadam Hussein was still the dictator in Iraq. While he was busy battling the Republican guards, he missed the beginning breath of his very first child. Currently, the Hammond family is enjoying the presence of their soldier being home after fifteen months of absence. Kaila, who is now fifteen, says, “I admire the strength he has when he’s preparing to leave and when he’s gone. Although he’s the one leaving for another country, he’s also the one holding us together through it all.”

As for Jason Shoemaker, there is only one teacher with that last name at Allatoona. If students haven’t already had Mrs. Shoemaker as a math teacher, most know her for her involvement in “The Helm” and in the “Shop with a Buccaneer” program. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have been married for eleven years and knew one another previously for four years. Jason shoemaker is an E-7 Chief at age 37 and has already been sent to Guam during September 11, 2001, Gulfport during Hurricane Katrina, and also completed two six-month cruises to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Enterprise. During his fifteen years with the U.S. Navy, six of them have been spent on active duty on a sea going command and the remaining nine years a reservist as a Navy Seabee. E-7 Chief Shoemaker recently returned home to his wife and child on Thursday, October 8^th, 2009. Mrs. Shoemaker tells us that, “I can honestly say that absence does make the heart grow fonder. One of the most difficult things that I struggled with is the fact that he’s normally the one I turn to for everything and yet with him in the type of environment where I want him to be focused on the issue at hand, I often couldn’t share with him exactly how I was feeling because I didn’t want him to focused on home.” For this sometime seemingly single mother, she says that an advantage of her husband being gone is that there is, “one less person to shop for, cook for and clean up after.” As far as disadvantages go, Mrs. Shoemaker says, “My best friend and confident is missing from my life for months at a time.”

            These insights are just three examples of the many men and women who have committed themselves to leaving their loved ones at a moment’s notice. As you can see, the people that are truly keeping our soldiers strong are their families. Behind every courageous soldier, there stands a courageous family. Take your time to thank these Americans for their determination and sacrifice today.