Mari Sturcyz has many roles: mother, daughter and soldier.
But she never dreamed when she joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard four years ago, after years of interest in the military, that she would be activated and sent overseas.
“When we first left to go to Fort McCoy, I was in denial,” Sturcyz wrote in an e-mail from Kuwait. “It never seemed real to me. It just seemed like I was leaving to do my annual training. I don’t think it hit me until we were in Kuwait. I remember looking out of the plane window as we were landing and it still didn’t seem real.”
“I think I have had every possible emotion.”
Sturycz, a Specialist (E-4), has been in Kuwait since February with the 163rd Personnel Service Battalion, where she works in the supply section. “We ensure that everyone from our battalion has the proper equipment, from uniforms to vehicles. We do a lot of traveling to the other camps to pick up equipment and deliver it.”
Sturycz said that she joined the National Guard because she “wanted to be challenged both physically and mentally.” Beyond wanting to serve the country, she also thought that it sounded like “something that would be doable with a family.”
Sturycz’s mission is scheduled to last about 12 to 18 months. Though she was told she might be sent home sooner, there is always the chance the mission could be extended as well. But this is a thought Sturycz’s mother, Darlene Junker, doesn’t want to entertain.
Neither do her children, Alex, 7, and Daniel, 5, who are now living half-time with Junker and half-time with Sturycz’s ex-husband and his wife.
According to Junker, the children, who both attend the Milwaukee Jewish Day School, are “coping well…. There are difficult periods,” said Junker, but “we keep stability” for them. Junker said when it does hit them that their mother is gone, “it hits hard.” But, Junker said that she reminds them that “Mommy would be happier knowing they are happy.”
There have been difficult moments for Junker as a mother as well. “We have different philosophies, but I still support her,” she said. Junker is not in favor of military action, but she understands that her daughter has the ability to make her own decisions.
One of the hardest things for Junker to witness was when Sturycz made a will prior to her departure. In addition, Sturycz had to make provisions for the children’s care in case she doesn’t return from Kuwait.
Mixed feelings
Being far from her children is difficult, Sturycz said. “To me it seems like time has stopped. I forget that at home my family and friends are living normal lives. It’s hard for me to accept the fact that one year out of my children’s lives has been taken from me and no matter what anyone does, I will never be able to get it back.”
Sturycz is thankful for her children’s teachers at MJDS, who “have done everything possible to make sure my children’s lives did not change.” The teachers also collected a list of provisions from school families and sent several care packages to Sturycz. “I was overwhelmed. I can’t believe all the stuff that was collected.”
Alex and Danny are looking forward to August, when Sturycz will return for about two weeks. Junker says she wants her daughter to spend “all her time with the kids, doing just day-to-day activities.”
In Kuwait, Sturycz has mixed feelings about the war in Iraq. Though she said she is proud of what she’s doing, she also feels “angry and frustrated to sit in the middle of a strange country and wonder why I am really here. It’s hard to see the whole puzzle when you are only given a few pieces. Sometimes this whole war doesn’t make sense to me.”
Still, Sturycz believes that America’s presence in Kuwait is valuable. “When we drive down the streets, the young children are excited to see us. They smile and wave at us. It’s nice to know that somehow our presence here will one day make their lives better.”
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