.Thanksgiving slips up on Hoosier soldier in Iraq
As a Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, 24-year-old Matt Kensill would like to be home with family and friends this holiday season, savoring a Thanksgiving Day win by the Indianapolis Colts and wolfing down leftovers.
But as an Army lieutenant and platoon leader serving his country in Iraq, he's not complaining.
"Everyone understands that we have a mission to do over here, and they go out and do it every day," said Kensill, a
2002 grad whose boyhood fascination with the Army led to his enrollment in the Army ROTC as a history major at Xavier University.
After graduating cum laude and with "distinguished military graduate" honors in 2006, his hitch as an Armor officer in the 82nd Airborne Division began.
"Growing up as a child, I wanted to do the kind of job that I associated with the Army. And that was being out in front . . . in a fighting capacity."
Not surprisingly, his chosen specialty soon took him on a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq, where the 73rd Cavalry officer and his men help secure Highway 1 as the main supply route for military convoys in the Babil province.
"It's like an I-69 that goes from Kuwait to Baghdad," says Kensill. "I've actually thought about that several times. Interstates are interstates no matter where you are in the world, and there's some places that look remarkably like home."
Despite the holiday season in full swing back home, and family and friends sending their love and best wishes, it was just this week that Kensill realized Thanksgiving Day was at hand.
While it's no longer the 130-plus degrees that greeted him on arrival this summer, it's still hot in Iraq. There are no leaves falling from trees. And snow is not on the horizon. It took the mess hall's Thanksgiving decorations to bring him up to date.
"Over here time passes, and it's a good thing because every day you're here is one day closer to going home," he said.
At his old Fishers homestead, parents Kim and Sherry Kensill looked forward to spending some time with their son this week. They and his sister Jennifer, a law school student, gathered for a family feast and a long-distance call from Matt.
"It's hard, I'll be honest," said Sherry Kensill, who is proud of those who serve in the military but also mindful of the baggage.
"It's what he's always wanted to do. . . . On the other hand, it's difficult for the parents. Difficult for his sister. Fifteen months is a long time."
Meantime, she was glad for the opportunity to keep in touch.
"That is one of the things that I'm thankful for," her son agreed. "My grandfather was in World War II, and I can't imagine what it must have been like without e-mail and telephone service, because that makes it seem like home's not so far away."
When Lt. Kensill and his team aren't boarding Humvees to clear Highway 1 of improvised explosive devices, dead animals or other threats to safe transport, they're often patrolling neighboring towns, where they combine their security role with one of service.
They do what they can to provide basic staples taken for granted here, such as electricity. And they've done it enough to know how thankful many Iraqi's are for the soldiers' presence.
"That's actually one of the things that caught me off guard," Kensill said. "The people, especially in my area, are very positive. The kids love us. The adults are receptive and understand that we're trying to help them."
After serving his troops their Thanksgiving meal and watching the Colts take on the Falcons before hitting his bunk, Kensill expected to be visiting such a town this weekend.
Then, come Sunday, he'll replace his gold 2nd lieutenant's insignia with silver and a promotion to 1st lieutenant.
After that, few things are certain beyond his commitment to duty in Iraq through mid-September and his plans for Thanksgiving next year.
"Hopefully, back in Fishers, with no body armor and no helmet," he said. "I'll still be in the Army . . . but at least for those few days, they'll be mine."
Indystar
But as an Army lieutenant and platoon leader serving his country in Iraq, he's not complaining.
"Everyone understands that we have a mission to do over here, and they go out and do it every day," said Kensill, a
2002 grad whose boyhood fascination with the Army led to his enrollment in the Army ROTC as a history major at Xavier University.
After graduating cum laude and with "distinguished military graduate" honors in 2006, his hitch as an Armor officer in the 82nd Airborne Division began.
"Growing up as a child, I wanted to do the kind of job that I associated with the Army. And that was being out in front . . . in a fighting capacity."
Not surprisingly, his chosen specialty soon took him on a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq, where the 73rd Cavalry officer and his men help secure Highway 1 as the main supply route for military convoys in the Babil province.
"It's like an I-69 that goes from Kuwait to Baghdad," says Kensill. "I've actually thought about that several times. Interstates are interstates no matter where you are in the world, and there's some places that look remarkably like home."
Despite the holiday season in full swing back home, and family and friends sending their love and best wishes, it was just this week that Kensill realized Thanksgiving Day was at hand.
While it's no longer the 130-plus degrees that greeted him on arrival this summer, it's still hot in Iraq. There are no leaves falling from trees. And snow is not on the horizon. It took the mess hall's Thanksgiving decorations to bring him up to date.
"Over here time passes, and it's a good thing because every day you're here is one day closer to going home," he said.
At his old Fishers homestead, parents Kim and Sherry Kensill looked forward to spending some time with their son this week. They and his sister Jennifer, a law school student, gathered for a family feast and a long-distance call from Matt.
"It's hard, I'll be honest," said Sherry Kensill, who is proud of those who serve in the military but also mindful of the baggage.
"It's what he's always wanted to do. . . . On the other hand, it's difficult for the parents. Difficult for his sister. Fifteen months is a long time."
Meantime, she was glad for the opportunity to keep in touch.
"That is one of the things that I'm thankful for," her son agreed. "My grandfather was in World War II, and I can't imagine what it must have been like without e-mail and telephone service, because that makes it seem like home's not so far away."
When Lt. Kensill and his team aren't boarding Humvees to clear Highway 1 of improvised explosive devices, dead animals or other threats to safe transport, they're often patrolling neighboring towns, where they combine their security role with one of service.
They do what they can to provide basic staples taken for granted here, such as electricity. And they've done it enough to know how thankful many Iraqi's are for the soldiers' presence.
"That's actually one of the things that caught me off guard," Kensill said. "The people, especially in my area, are very positive. The kids love us. The adults are receptive and understand that we're trying to help them."
After serving his troops their Thanksgiving meal and watching the Colts take on the Falcons before hitting his bunk, Kensill expected to be visiting such a town this weekend.
Then, come Sunday, he'll replace his gold 2nd lieutenant's insignia with silver and a promotion to 1st lieutenant.
After that, few things are certain beyond his commitment to duty in Iraq through mid-September and his plans for Thanksgiving next year.
"Hopefully, back in Fishers, with no body armor and no helmet," he said. "I'll still be in the Army . . . but at least for those few days, they'll be mine."
Indystar
posted by madtom at 11:29 PM
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