By Mary Malloy
Baldwin resident Brian FitzSimons, with the Army's 173rd Airborne Unit BSB Bravo Company, is currently stationed in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, engaged in combat operations. This is his second deployment overseas. He was previously stationed in Vicenza, Italy and then transferred to Bamberg Germany in June. He left for Afghanistan on May 18.
A plumber by trade, and a former Lieutenant member of Baldwin's Ladder 2 and current member of Hempstead's Ladder 2, FitzSimons is not due for his next "R&R" until March of 2008, according to his wife, Melissa, who is a long way from her Baldwin home herself.
Melissa now lives on the Army base in Germany. She and Brian have been married for three years, and have been away from each other for most of that time. "I know in my heart and mind that it was the right choice, sacrificing being with my family and going to Germany to be able to wake up next to him every morning," Melissa said.
Or so she thought. FitzSimons' 15-month deployment was extended this year from his previous 12-month deployments, will have him returning to Bamberg in August of next year. He wants to continue his Army career, said Melissa, and plans to start training classes in the hopes of being accepted to the Army's Physicians' Assistant Program.
Melissa said she keeps busy and awaits her husband's return by working as a Program Assistant at the School Aged Services at the U.S. Army Garrison-Warner Barracks in Bamberg - a long way from family and friends. "I try to keep myself involved in the military community just so I don't have to hear the apartment echo back at me," she said. "I have pictures of Brian everywhere I turn - in the truck I'm driving, in every room of the apartment. My sister, Desiree, gave me two photo albums before I left that I keep with me at all times."
Melissa keeps Brian up-to-date on their favorite T.V. programs by e-mail. "Watching 'Hell's Kitchen' was one of our weekly traditions, so I contact him after every episode to fill him in," she said.
On a more romantic note, Melissa says Brian sends her the pillowcase he sleeps on "so that I can smell him - it helps me to feel as if he's close to me."
"There are times that I will do something where it immediately reminds me of him, whether it's his favorite dish I'm cooking, or as simple as how I fold my clothes on laundry day - his military-style way, or my civilian style. Sometimes I get a kick out of taking the extra time and do it his way. These are the little things that help me get through this difficult time."
For the first deployment, Melissa said her family helped her through most of it. "I drove the mile to my sister's house, just sit with her and her family, and it made me feel better. Living under her parents' roof in their Baldwin home until she was 31 spoiled her, she said. "I learned how to cook on October 3 of 2006 - the day I moved to Germany."
At the base, Melissa has the support of others who are going through the same thing. "I don't feel as if I need to hide my tears because I know they are feeling what I am feeling," she said. "It's a different sort of comfort, but I am lucky to have such a wonderful family at home that would prefer me to be with them, but understand why I can't be right now."
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
