Air Force Staff Sgt. Salvador Russo, with the 447th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, spent Christmas at Baghdad International Airport with his mother, Sgt. First Class Ana Russo, who is deployed to Tallil, Iraq. MSgt. Randy L Mitchell
Posted on 12/30/2005 5:00:22 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Dec. 29, 2005) – Some families go through a great deal to spend time with loved ones on Christmas, but rarely do they deploy to the desert to do so. One family did, however, and they were able to spend this special holiday together.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Salvador Russo, a secure communications craftsman with the 447th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, received a special Christmas gift this year when his mother traveled from Tallil, Iraq to spend the holiday weekend with him here.
Sgt. First Class Ana Russo, who deployed to Tallil with the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 485th Combat Support Battalion from Hanau, Germany, in November, had sought permission from her commander to spend Christmas with her son.
“I will be in Tallil for a year,” she said. “So this is the best gift I could receive, to spend time with my son during his first deployment. It is also a special time of the year when most families share time together.”
Many deployments
This isn’t Ana’s first deployment to a war-time environment; the 17-year Army veteran was deployed for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This is also her second tour to Iraq, she served at Al Taji in 2003.
Sal, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, last saw his mother before he deployed here in September.
“(Mom) came to Ramstein to visit me and we went to restaurants, shopping, and just hung out together relaxing,” he said. “We cooked, laughed, watched movies, and called family back in the states. She even helped me with a Business Writing course I was taking.”
The two were hoping to share this Christmas with another family member, Ana’s other son Robert, a senior airman assigned to the 55th Communications Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
“My other son, Robert, volunteered to come to Iraq,” Ana said, “but his chain of command did not allow it because his brother and I would be deployed here at the same time too.”
Unforgettable holiday
Ana is thankful for the opportunities she’s had to spend the holidays with her boys. Last Christmas, both sons visited her in Hanau for Christmas, although Sal had to overcome some car problems to make it there.
“I was having some pretty serious car problems and there was snow on the autobahn,” he said. “The night before I told her I didn’t think it was safe to drive out, but I could sense her sadness at the thought of me not coming, so I drove out anyways and surprised her Christmas morning.”
The time spent together last year was great, according to Sal, but nothing compared to this year.
“The memories we make will last a lifetime. I wish all deployed members could have this wonderful luxury, and I hope that our unique story brings some sort of warmth and happiness to those around us,” he said. “My girlfriend, Julia, and friends back in Germany have been a real source of strength to me during this deployment, but nothing tops having your mother with you at Christmas.”
Ana shared those same feelings, as they both expressed gratitude that their respective commander’s provided this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I want to thank (the commanders) for giving us the opportunity to spend this special time together,” she said. “I also want to say how very proud I am of my sons and the great job they do for our nation.”
(Editor’s note, Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell serves with 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs.)
A Military Family Christmas in Iraq PING
The Ma has got shades of First Lady Laura Bush with a hipanic twist.
She must have an interesting story as well. She would have joined the Army *after* her two sons were born, since both are well over 17.
BTTT
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