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Two isle sisters are in a Guard
battalion that is readying for Iraq
Sgt. Novie Widemann and Spc. Samlynn Moore wear something more than just dog tags around their necks -- two opposite sides of a tiny gold heart.
Half of Widemann's "little heart" is inscribed "big sister." Moore's half says "little sister."
"If we went to war," said Widemann, 32, "it would only come together if one of us dies."
The two sisters are among the more than 2,000 isle citizen soldiers of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade who are preparing for a year of combat duty in Iraq beginning as early as February.
"I bought this six years ago for my sister's bridal shower," said Widemann, pointing to the tiny golden locket, "and gave one half of it to my sister."
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The sisters belong to the 29th Brigade's 29th Support Battalion, which is the medical, logistical and maintenance arm of the infantry brigade. Widemann is a mechanic with Headquarters & Headquarters Company. Moore is the armor, or weapons specialist, for Alpha Company.
Widemann knows that she will be in Iraq within seven months.
Moore might not go since she is now 5 1/2 months pregnant with her third child.
"It quite wasn't the way my husband and I planned it," said Moore, 29. "I didn't think we were going to Iraq until next spring. I had wanted to get pregnant after our deployment, but the deployment came early."
Now she has mixed feelings.
"My (initial) preference is go after I give birth in November and rejoin my unit and do my part, but with a newborn, I prefer to stay home. Otherwise my child will never get to know me," said Moore.
The situation at the Moore's Kapolei Hawaiian Homestead home may get even more complicated.
Moore's husband is also a reservist and member of the Individual Ready Reserve who doesn't belong to any unit. However, last month the Pentagon tapped 5,600 of these individuals for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"In the reserves he's a security policeman," Moore said. "And it's a good possibility that he could be activated."
Moore thinks she will be placed on active duty with other members of the 29th Support Battalion on Aug. 16, but will be allowed to remain at its headquarters at Kalaeloa. Her mother has already quit her position with the Jobs Corps to help take care of Moore's two other infant children, Pomaikai, 3, and Aalii, 2.
Moore and Widemann enlisted in the Hawaii Army Guard 11 years ago.
"Actually, I wanted to be a firefighter," said Moore, who graduated from Kailua High School in 1993. But she was approached by an Hawaii Army Guard recruiter and said, "I've no regrets."
After three years serving as a drill status reservist, Widemann became a full-time mechanic eight years ago in the Army Guard servicing Humvees, five-ton trucks, trailers and generators.
Widemann, a 1990 Kailua High School alum, said she wasn't surprised by the call-up. "I work full-time here, so, I had the info early that we were going to get activated.
"Sis and I joined for one reason and for one reason, only -- for our loved ones, for our state and our country."
www.dod.state.hi.us/hiarng