Iowa Guard families look for answers

IOWA CITY - Rachel Waldron of North Liberty just tries to take it one day at a time.

Hers is among the thousands of families preparing for the possible deployment of roughly 3,500 Iowa National Guard soldiers next fall.

“Nothing is set in stone,” she said, “so I just focus on today.”

She, husband Will Waldron and 8-month-old daughter Hallie joined more than 100 people at a support-group meeting at the Iowa National Guard Readiness Center in Iowa City on Sunday afternoon.

Will Waldron, 23, has been in the Guard since 2004 and has been deployed to Iraq once. While he said it's too early to change any plans, he keeps their families constantly updated with news as it comes.

Lana Berry of Tipton, who has two sons in the Guard, became emotional at the thought of her youngest being deployed for the first time.

Her oldest son, Shawn Dean, 34, has been deployed before and is stationed in Texas, so the family understands what it's like. But when it comes to Brandon Berry, 19, she said saying goodbye would be more difficult.

“It's different,” she said. “He's the baby.”

While the situation is always tough on the family, Berry said she thinks the resources provided to them are wonderful.

Patrick Hoyt, family coordinator for the Guard, said he is doing his best to keep families informed.

Whether it's reminding a young soldier to call his parents or ensuring a leaky pipe gets fixed in a home while a service member is away, Hoyt said, he's there to help.

And with so many Guard members being alerted for the possible deployment, he said his job will be no easy task.

“It's going to be a rough one,” Hoyt said.