Courtesy Photo | Spc. Deandre Clay (right), and Cpl. Ebonie Clay, both Chicago natives, smile for the...... read more read more
By Pfc. April Campbell
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – As she walked up to the Soldier at the burn barrel, she knew he would be surprised to see her. Even through the smoky air, the Soldier easily recognized his older sister.
Cpl. Ebonie Clay, a Chicago native who serves as the orderly room non-commissioned officer in charge with Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad, recently flew from Camp Liberty, Iraq, to visit her brother Spc. Deandre Clay at Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah.
She and Deandre, also a Chicago native, who serves as a storage clerk with the Supply Support Activity Platoon, Company A, 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, MND-B, had an emotional reunion.
"It's like seeing your best friend over here," she said. "It's like the shock of seeing your mom walk up to you in Iraq."
"We're very close," said Deandre. "The visit was a real blessing. We never planned that we'd be near each other downrange."
The siblings, who started out as Soldiers in the Illinois National Guard, were roommates in Illinois and provided encouragement and support for each other throughout their Army careers.
"I talked him into joining the Army," Ebonie said. "When he got back from (advanced individual training), he convinced me to join."
Deandre backed up his encouragement by aiding Ebonie in her military endeavors.
"My brother took care of my son, my house and my car while I was at (basic combat training) and AIT," she added. "He did an excellent job, and he did it all by himself."
The two joined the active Army about the same time. They left Illinois; Ebonie went to Texas, and Deandre went to Virginia and then to Louisiana. Both were scheduled to deploy within months of arriving at their home station.
When Deandre deployed with his unit, his platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Presly McKeever, a Shreveport, La., native, who serves with the SSA Platoon, Co. A, 94th BSB, helped to connect the two Soldiers after he found out Deandre's sister was serving with MND-B.
Helping to make a positive impact on his Soldier's life felt rewarding, said McKeever.
Due to a delay in Ebonie's flight, she was able to stay at FOB Rustamiyah – giving her an extra day to spend with her brother.
"They didn't seem to leave each other's side the whole time," said McKeever. "She stayed at work with him, and they went to breakfast, lunch and dinner together."
Seeing the familiar face of a family member so far away from home has also provided a positive impact on the day-to-day lives of Ebonie and Deandre.
While Deandre has always been a motivated Soldier, said McKeever, his attitude is even more positive than it was before.
"Seeing Ebonie will definitely help me get through the deployment," Deandre said.
Her visit to FOB Rustamiyah has impacted Ebonie similarly. This is her first deployment, and visiting her brother has strengthened her connection with him.
"I felt alone at first," she said. "But it gave me a whole new perspective because somebody's down here with me, and it's my family. I'm not going through (this deployment) by myself."
A little friendly, sibling rivalry also never hurt anybody either. For Ebonie, it has been motivating.
"I look at him and think, if he can handle (the deployment), and he's the baby of the family, I can handle it," she added.
One of Ebonie's supervisors, 1st Sgt. Scott Eremus, an Atlantic Highlands, N.J., native, who serves as the senior enlisted Soldier for Co. B, STB, 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B, said her spirits have definitely lifted since seeing her brother.
The effect of visiting family members here reaches a farther distance and more people than just the Soldiers in Iraq. Stateside family members feel the impact as well.
"Their family had to give up two children, one son and one daughter, and for them to both be participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom at the same time probably takes its toll on the family back home," said Eremus. "Maybe their mother, knowing that the two of them were able to see each other, will feel better."
According to the siblings, that is the case.
"It really made (my mother) happy," Ebonie said. "She's nervous that we're both over here, so it made her extremely happy that we could see each other – brother and sister – check on each other and make sure we're alright."
Their mother was also able to hear a trusted, second opinion of how each of her deployed children was doing.
"She asked my brother about me," Ebonie said, "and she asked me about him."
"She was relieved," said Deandre. Their whole family is relieved to know the two are serving in Iraq together.
Throughout the remainder of their deployment, both Ebonie and Deandre look forward to reuniting again when they return to the U.S.
"I can't wait until we get to see each other in the states," Deandre said.
"We're going to travel when we get back," Ebanie said. "We're actually going to visit our friends in the town where we lived together."
Though their journey, both as brother and sister and as Soldiers, is far from over, the two have come a long way. Although another meeting between the two is not currently scheduled, Ebonie and Deandre will continue to look for opportunities to meet again while in Baghdad.
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2008 08:29 |
| Story ID: | 17355 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 219 |
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