Post-deployment cancer diagnosis ‘taking its toll’

Spc. Brad Foreman survived a combat tour in Afghanistan with the 322nd Engineer Company of Decorah, only to learn shortly after the unit's return in January that he will soon die of liver cancer.

Even if it's the last thing he ever does, Foreman said he plans to return to Decorah this weekend to reunite with his Army Reserve buddies.

“I spent 14 months with those guys. They are like my second family, and I want to say goodbye,” said Foreman, 41, of Canton, Mich.

His buddies, who will be in Decorah for their monthly drill weekend, will hold events to raise money to help sustain Foreman's bride, Michelle, and his daughter, Brianna, through their impending loss.

“To be honest, I don't think words can describe how much that means to me,” said Foreman, a former Marine who was nicknamed “Grandpa” in boot camp after he joined the Army Reserve in 2006,

During his recent Afghanistan tour, Foreman operated the M240 machine gun mounted on the vehicle in which his company commander, Capt. Troy King, traveled on his daily tours of construction sites.

News of Foreman's illness “hit me pretty hard,” King said. Because of Foreman's experience, maturity and the trust he earned from younger soldiers, “I relied on him pretty heavily,” he said.

“He did what he was told to very high standards, and I never once heard him complain,” King said.

Foreman was one of about 90 soldiers from other states who joined forces with the 70 “organic” 322nd members who regularly drill in Decorah. The soldiers, mostly carpenters, plumbers and electricians, built seven new bases, more than a dozen surveillance and operations centers and 30 miles of new road during their 10-month deployment.

All the soldiers who served with Foreman feel the same sense of brotherhood, according to Sgt. Kevin Urquidez, 28, of Swisher, a platoon mate of Foreman.

“Nothing brings that out like prolonged elevated stress situations where you depend upon the people to your right and left,” Urquidez said.

Foreman's squad leader in Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Devon Wagner of Dike, described him as a compassionate go-getter who “takes the bull by the horns and gets things done.”

Foreman and his wife had planned to marry in August but moved the ceremony up to April 1 because, in Foreman's words, “I wasn't going to be around then.”

Foreman said the disease is “definitely taking its toll.” He's lost 50 pounds since he deployed. His movements are slow, and he needs a cane to walk.

“The doctors are giving me some good pain pills, and the Army is taking care of everything. They have really been on top of it,” he said.

Michelle Foreman, 40, said doctors concluded that the cancer began to grow shortly after her husband arrived in Afghanistan.

“I talked to him almost every day (during the deployment), and he never once complained that he didn't feel well,” she said.

Foreman came home Jan. 10 and was hospitalized three days later. Though the Foremans knew the truth sooner, the official diagnosis of aggressive liver cancer was made Jan. 23, she said.

Fundraisers include a spaghetti dinner with a freewill donation from 5 to 7 p.m. June 1 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall at 104 State St., Decorah. At 7 the following evening, a silent auction will be held at the same location, according to Amber Iverson of Swisher, Urquidez' fiancee.

People who want to donate items for the auction can call Iverson at (319) 693-3236.

People who can't attend the fundraisers but would like to help the Foreman family can send donations to the Brad Foreman Benefit, c/o Decorah Bank and Trust, 202 E. Water St., Decorah, IA 52101.