Guardsman Heads Home to his Family

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Jimmy Weeks, was deployed with his South Carolina Army National Guard unit, the 151st Field Artillery Brigade October 2006. The Manning, S.C., native worked in the Iraqi security forces cell in the Multi-National Division – Baghdad Headquarters, in Camp Liberty, western Baghdad, where he tracked the daily movements of the numerous Iraqi army brigades in the Iraqi capital area.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.04.2007

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

Multi-National Division – Baghdad

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – A Manning, S.C., native, was proud to follow in his father's footsteps and enlist in the United States Army.

Unfortunately, Sgt. Jimmy Weeks' desire to emulate his father has temporarily separated him from his own children.

In October 2006, his South Carolina Army National Guard unit, the 151st Field Artillery Brigade, was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Attached to the Multi-National Division – Baghdad, Weeks has spent the last 12 months working in the Iraqi security forces cell in the headquarters in Camp Liberty in western Baghdad where he tracked the daily movements of the numerous Iraqi army brigades in the Iraqi capital area.

While he serves in Iraq, however, his wife, Claretha, has had her hands full with their two young children, Jimek Dontay Weeks, 8, and Jimmy Weeks III, 2.

"Being apart from family is the worst part about deploying," Weeks said. "You miss out on birthdays, holidays, and even just normal days and these are times which you can never get back."

Although he believes that his family understands why he has to be in Iraq, Weeks knows that his deployment has been difficult for them all, but especially for his wife who has had to raise their two "highly energized" children alone.

Understanding his wife's sacrifices, Weeks said, "When I get home, my wife is going to need a vacation even more than I do!"

To the relief of Week's family, the 151st Field Artillery Brigade is expected to redeploy home later this month. Until that time, however, Weeks said that he will "continue to keep himself in God's hands, and trust that He will handle the rest."

• Date Taken: 10.04.2007
• Date Posted: 10.04.2007 12:52
• Story ID: 12709
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ