LI military families proud of soldiers, but worry
Rachel Wilkins speaks about her son, U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret Eric Wilkins, who is serving in Afghanistan. In the background is Eric's 1988 West Babylon HS graduation photo. (Nov. 5, 2009) Credit: Kathy Kmonicek
When news broke last month that a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan claimed the lives of seven soldiers serving with the U.S. Army's Special Forces, Dennis and Rachel Wilkins feared the worst for their Green Beret son.
"We spent two terrible days," said Rachel Wilkins, her fingers knotted, as she sat in the living room of her family's Miller Place home. "We called our daughter-in-law to ask if she had heard anything. He finally was able to call us two days later."
As Veterans Day arrives two days after Long Island buried its most recent battlefield fatality from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, area residents are reminded of the sacrifices made by the nation's military personnel and their families. Established after World War I, Veterans Day is a national day of remembering the sacrifices of all of America's veterans. Nowhere was that sacrifice more on display than during yesterday's ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, where President Barack Obama honored the 13 men and women killed during a shooting spree on the base.
The Wilkins' son, Eric, is stationed in Afghanistan in a unit that included Sgt. Keith Bishop, 28, of Medford, who was killed Oct. 26 in a helicopter crash. He was at least the 10th Long Islander to die in Afghanistan.
Until they heard their son's voice, the Wilkins feared Eric might have been aboard that helicopter. And he would have been, they were told, had another communications specialist not been assigned in his place.
Worry goes with it
Military service - and the worry that goes with it - have been part of this family's history. Dennis Wilkins' father survived the June 1944 allied landing at Normandy; Rachel Wilkins' brother served in Vietnam. With their son in Afghanistan, both parents know the apprehension each day brings.
Bishop grew up a dozen miles from the Wilkins' home, in Medford. Both he and Eric Wilkins were members of the Army's special forces groups.
"His death really brought this home to us, how close death can be," said Rachel Wilkins. "This is stressful - it keeps me on my knees. You try to stay positive, but you are hoping nothing happens."
Thousands of area men and women have served in the military in the eight years since President George W. Bush sent troops to Afghanistan in 2001, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and in 2003 to Iraq. Thirty-three Long Islanders have died in Iraq. The high numbers of area men and women serving their country can be seen in the church the Wilkinses attend, St. Louis de Montford in Sound Beach, where 22 members are serving, according to a church brochure.
In Shirley, Terry Kruger, an auto mechanic with three children currently serving in the Army, was also moved by Bishop's death.
A friend from Mastic, Terry Wilwerth, had heard of an outdoor memorial service in Bishop's honor at a park in Patchogue, and asked Kruger to come. Wilwerth is the father of Army Spc. Thomas Wilwerth, 21, of Mastic, who was killed in Iraq in February 2006, about a month after his unit relieved Kruger's son's unit, allowing it to return home. The two men knew each other from William Floyd High School.
>>VIDEO: Click here to see VetDogs and their furry friends dedicated to helping Veterans
Another military family
Terry Kruger, who reached the rank of Army staff sergeant while he was stationed in Germany between 1977 and 1983, said military service also runs in his family. His father, Richard Kruger, achieved the rank of sergeant major during a 20-year career. His grandfather served in the Army for 30 years.
He is unequivocally proud that he has two sons and a daughter in uniform. But he is worried about multiple deployments. His eldest son, Army Spc. Matthew Kruger, has served three tours. His youngest son, Pfc. Richard Kruger, 19, a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade stationed in Europe, leaves for Afghanistan in a week. His daughter, Jennifer Kruger, 21, a member of the 257th Medical Batallion stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga., is nearing the end of her training there.
Last September, Matthew Kruger returned to upstate Fort Drum from his latest tour in Iraq. On Friday, Terry Kruger drove there to spend the weekend with his son.
Kruger said his son is haunted by an episode in which he was among U.S. soldiers who fired on an auto that failed to stop as it approached a checkpoint. A 13-year-old Iraqi female passenger bled to death in his son's arms, Kruger said.
"Sometimes he wakes up screaming in the night," Kruger said. "I think our all-volunteer military is the finest force ever assembled, but it is way too small. One [tour] is hard, twice is incredibly hard. I can't imagine having to do it three or four times."
Sitting in their Miller Place living room, the Wilkinses expressed similar anxieties. After all, Eric Wilkins, 40, is on his fifth tour of duty - two in Iraq and three in Afghanistan.
"This is like rolling the dice," Dennis Wilkins said. "Sooner or later, the odds start working against you."
>>PHOTOS: Click here to see photos of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 21 Massapequa, Miller Place wrestling champs Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks about Massapequa and Miller Place wrestling teams winning state dual meet championships and Jonathan Ruban takes a look at the undefeated Northport girls basketball team.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 21 Massapequa, Miller Place wrestling champs Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks about Massapequa and Miller Place wrestling teams winning state dual meet championships and Jonathan Ruban takes a look at the undefeated Northport girls basketball team.
