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November 27, 2009

Home for the holiday

Chaplain in unit that lost two soldiers

Mark Millican

As an Army chaplain serving in Iraq, Sgt. Derrick Hobbs knows the difference between a military and civilian funeral. In a war zone, the members of the soldier’s unit get fully involved when one of their own is killed.

In his yearlong deployment, Hobbs has helped plan two of them.

“We lost two men, one in January and one in April,” he said on Wednesday, just before leaving Fort Bragg, N.C., for Chatsworth for Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday. “Both were killed by roadside bombs.”

Hobbs is a member of the 2nd Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. That unit is in the Third Brigade of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division.

“In that situation, you have guys who are paratroopers that are tough and find it hard to open up,” he said. “It’s a lot more personal. I just try to be there when they’re ready to open up and talk. You know the dangers and the risks, but most of them think it won’t happen to them or their buddy. It’s a fact of war that’s not easy to deal with. It’s unique to each situation, and often I just listen.”

Many times it’s at the funeral where fellow soldiers do open up, he said, after helping plan the memorial service and then reading Scripture or taking speaking roles. Or even just staging the traditional image of the fallen man’s rifle, boots and helmet.

Now the unit is stateside and the tour of duty in Iraq is finished. Hobbs said it was “hard to put into words” how good it will be to make it home for Thanksgiving.

“Being back in the U.S. is wonderful, but being with family is special,” he said. “I am so thankful for how much my family and friends have been supporting us with their prayers, the e-mails and the care packages.”

The 1996 graduate of Murray County High School was last home in May for his brother’s wedding, and was feted by a Northwest Elementary School assembly on his visit. He said he still corresponds with a kindergarten class there that “adopted” him through e-mails and regular mail.

His parents, Roger and Vickie Hobbs, waited expectantly on Wednesday.

“It’s always good to have your son on U.S. soil,” said his father. “On the other hand, we’re also proud that he can serve our country. There are mixed emotions. We’re getting together with all the family on Thanksgiving evening, and it’s going to be great. Thanksgiving is a wonderful thing. They were deployed last November so he missed being here for Christmas.”

Vickie Hobbs said she is “thrilled” her military man is coming home.

“We haven’t stopped grinning much around here since we learned he was coming,” she said. “We’re not doing anything special, just giving thanks. We’re also aware that two of their men were killed and won’t be making it home, so those families are going to be in our prayers.”









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