Soldier returns home from the war

Soldier returns home from the war
By T.L.Whitaker
A Dundee soldier has returned home from the war.
Debbie Pasko, a personnel service sergeant with the 406th Corps Support Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, returned home on Thursday, April 22. She had been deployed to the deserts of Uzbekistan, which supported the United States’ war in Afghanistan. She also carried a weapon and went into Afghanistan a few times on missions during her 10-month tour of duty.

She was one of 60 people deployed from the 406 CSB to Uzbekistan. The battalion also has units deployed to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. The 406 CSB supplies water, ammunition and other necessary items to fighting troops.

When Sgt. Pasko’s bus pulled into the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Ann Arbor, it was greeted by at least 200 family members and friends, a large choir from a middle school in South Lyon and a number of uniformed Ann Arbor police officers, who saluted the bus.

Brenda Crosby of Ann Arbor was there with her granddaughter to wave flags and cheer. “I don’t have anyone on the bus, but my son is in the reserves and he came home in December. I know how important it was for him to have people here.”

Inside the Reserve Center, where Sgt. Pasko worked full time before being deployed, there were tables of food and refreshments for the family members and for the soldiers when they returned. There were huge decorated cakes, and literally stacks of apple pies.

When she stepped off the bus, Sgt. Pasko was greeted by her husband, Larry; sons Brandon, 19, Larry Jr. “Buddy,” 17 and Cody, 12; her parents, Don and Judy Nash; her sisters, Denise Rains and Dawn Stall, niece Katelynn and nephews Jared, Jacob and Josh. They made signs, and carried flags and balloons to help welcome her home.

The bus was about an hour late, because the Army supply truck accompanying it ran out of gas on an I-94 ramp. While they waited for the bus to bring Debbie home to them, Sgt. Pasko’s family spoke about life while she was away, and their concerns.

“It’s been rough,” said Brandon. “I mean, it’s just been craziness pretty much. We’re a house full of men. But my grandma’s just down the street, and that helped.”

Although the family emailed back and forth, they hadn’t spoken with her on the phone since March 30. Her mother, Mrs. Nash, said the phone communications were broken up and hard to hear, anyway.

Sgt. Pasko was able to come back to see Brandon graduate from Dundee Alternative High School in January, since she was on an R&R (rest and relaxation) leave. She took four days for the trip. The plane ride was at least 25 hours just in the air— one way. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It was a once in a lifetime thing, to see your oldest child graduate,” said Sgt. Pasko.

“It was so awesome that she was here; I couldn’t believe it,” said Brandon. “It was cool for a few days, when we were together, and then it like, fell back apart.” He said that when she got off the bus, they were going to hold on to her.

“Holidays were so weird without her,” said Brandon.

“It was like, we were just trying to get Christmas over with,” said Mrs. Nash. “We were concerned that she was away, and how her Christmas was.”

“We’re tickled to death she’s coming home. When she gets home, we’re going to make up for all the holidays she missed. We’re going to have all the holiday dinners for her,” said her dad, Mr. Nash. “Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

They have started to do just that. On Sunday, April 25, the entire family gathered at the Nash home for Easter dinner.

“The kids are asking, ‘Where’s the Easter baskets,’ but we’re just having the dinner,” laughed Mrs. Nash.

The night before, Saturday, April 24, Sgt. Pasko’s sisters threw her a surprise 40th birthday party, invited her in-laws and there was a house full of people.

Sgt. Pasko joined the Army when she was 18, and served 15 years of regular duty before switching to the active reserves.

“I am so happy to be home. It’s been a long time. I love my job. I wouldn’t have stayed with it for 22 years if I didn’t like it, and I do— most of the time,” said Sgt. Pasko. She has a few years more in the reserves before she qualifies for retirement. But when she does, “Yes, I will retire,” she said.

She enjoyed her first meal after she got off the bus— at Taco Bell.

“It was awesome,” she said. “They feed you very well over there, but there’s no fast food. So that was my first thing. I was still in uniform. I got off the bus and went straight to Taco Bell,” she laughed.

Sgt. Pasko has taken two weeks off, and then will return to work at the Reserve Center in Ann Arbor.

She said she and her family were lucky to be living in her hometown when she was deployed to Uzbekistan. As a member of the active reserves, she has to travel all over, and the family has moved every four to five years as her assignment has changed.

In Dundee, she is surrounded by family members, and they have all been very supportive of one another.

Her husband, Larry, has kept the family together not only during this deployment, but also during her first deployment, during Desert Storm. Then, she was not sent overseas, but to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin where the Army in-processed soldiers, sending them overseas and taking care of them when they came back. The children were toddlers then.

“I’m just patiently waiting,” said Mr. Pasko calmly, as he waited for her bus to arrive.

“It’s been so hard,” said Mrs. Nash. It’s not just that they’re in dangerous situations, but that they’re gone.

“We have been strong for each other,” she continued. “I would tell her she was strong and could get through this, and she’d do the same for me. Then, when she was finally back in the States to be debriefed, she called and said, ‘I’ve had enough. I’m ready to come home,’ and we both busted out crying.”

Her sisters were also waiting for the bus to pull up in Ann Arbor.

“I’m sick, I’m so excited,” said Dawn Stall. “I can’t wait. I got a computer and email just so I could talk to her. Now I can cancel the email. I was pregnant when she left, and now I have an eight and half-month–old baby; she hasn’t even seen him yet. I took my kids out of school and I took off work to come here.”

Denise Rains said, “We’re all so excited. We took down the star flag from the window that says we’re a family with someone overseas, and put up a ‘Thank God Debbie’s Home!’ sign. We’re happy. We’re so thankful. It was a long, stressful road and we worried about her a lot.”

“I hope she won’t have to leave again,” said her father. “Lots of times, people get home and then two or three months later, they send them out again. With the other countries pulling out, that’s not easy for us. We’re scared to death. But we’ll hope for the best, and make the best of the time that we’ve got.”

Waiting for the bus, her son Brandon said a lot had happened since his mom was deployed.

“She hasn’t seen the house yet. She doesn’t even know where she lives,” he said.

The family had been living in a rented house on Dundee-Azalia Road. While Sgt. Pasko was away, they received a letter that said they had to move out by Dec. 30 because the house had been foreclosed on.

The move was a surprise to Sgt. Pasko. Their landlord had said nothing about the foreclosure or the sale of the house, she said on April 25. The family was told the house would be taken down.

“I contacted a lawyer, and they were able to stay there a couple of extra months, but then they had to move. The thing is, when I got home, the house was still there, and still empty. They could have let them stay until I got back. You depend on your family having a roof over their heads while you’re gone,” said Sgt. Pasko.

Her husband and three sons managed to get the family moved to a house on Ypsilanti Street.

“It’s not really compatible to our needs, but at least we have a place to live,” said Sgt. Pasko. “It’s just really frustrating because I wasn’t here to deal with it. They don’t stop the war so you can come home and deal with it.”

She said she was looking forward to doing her own laundry, cooking her own food and cleaning up her own house.

“I’ve got to take over command again,” she laughed. “My husband did a wonderful job. I have to get back in the swing of things.”

There are no guarantees that she won’t be deployed again soon.

“We’re all saying our prayers, that we will get a break,” said Sgt. Pasko. “But when the president says they need you, you go.”


Soldier returns home from the war By T.L.Whitaker A Dundee soldier has returned home from the war. Debbie Pasko, a personnel service sergeant with the 406th Corps Support Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, returned home on Thursday, April 22. She had been deployed to the deserts of Uzbekistan, which supported the United States’ war in Afghanistan. She also carried a weapon and went into Afghanistan a few times on missions during her 10-month tour of duty. She was one of 60 people deployed from the 406 CSB to Uzbekistan. The battalion also has units deployed to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. The 406 CSB supplies water, ammunition and other necessary items to fighting troops. When Sgt. Pasko’s bus pulled into the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Ann Arbor, it was greeted by at least 200 family members and friends, a large choir from a middle school in South Lyon and a number of uniformed Ann Arbor police officers, who saluted the bus. Brenda Crosby of Ann Arbor was there with her granddaughter to wave flags and cheer. “I don’t have anyone on the bus, but my son is in the reserves and he came home in December. I know how important it was for him to have people here.” Inside the Reserve Center, where Sgt. Pasko worked full time before being deployed, there were tables of food and refreshments for the family members and for the soldiers when they returned. There were huge decorated cakes, and literally stacks of apple pies. When she stepped off the bus, Sgt. Pasko was greeted by her husband, Larry; sons Brandon, 19, Larry Jr. “Buddy,” 17 and Cody, 12; her parents, Don and Judy Nash; her sisters, Denise Rains and Dawn Stall, niece Katelynn and nephews Jared, Jacob and Josh. They made signs, and carried flags and balloons to help welcome her home. The bus was about an hour late, because the Army supply truck accompanying it ran out of gas on an I-94 ramp. While they waited for the bus to bring Debbie home to them, Sgt. Pasko’s family spoke about life while she was away, and their concerns. “It’s been rough,” said Brandon. “I mean, it’s just been craziness pretty much. We’re a house full of men. But my grandma’s just down the street, and that helped.” Although the family emailed back and forth, they hadn’t spoken with her on the phone since March 30. Her mother, Mrs. Nash, said the phone communications were broken up and hard to hear, anyway. Sgt. Pasko was able to come back to see Brandon graduate from Dundee Alternative High School in January, since she was on an R&R (rest and relaxation) leave. She took four days for the trip. The plane ride was at least 25 hours just in the air— one way. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. “It was a once in a lifetime thing, to see your oldest child graduate,” said Sgt. Pasko. “It was so awesome that she was here; I couldn’t believe it,” said Brandon. “It was cool for a few days, when we were together, and then it like, fell back apart.” He said that when she got off the bus, they were going to hold on to her. “Holidays were so weird without her,” said Brandon. “It was like, we were just trying to get Christmas over with,” said Mrs. Nash. “We were concerned that she was away, and how her Christmas was.” “We’re tickled to death she’s coming home. When she gets home, we’re going to make up for all the holidays she missed. We’re going to have all the holiday dinners for her,” said her dad, Mr. Nash. “Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.” They have started to do just that. On Sunday, April 25, the entire family gathered at the Nash home for Easter dinner. “The kids are asking, ‘Where’s the Easter baskets,’ but we’re just having the dinner,” laughed Mrs. Nash. The night before, Saturday, April 24, Sgt. Pasko’s sisters threw her a surprise 40th birthday party, invited her in-laws and there was a house full of people. Sgt. Pasko joined the Army when she was 18, and served 15 years of regular duty before switching to the active reserves. “I am so happy to be home. It’s been a long time. I love my job. I wouldn’t have stayed with it for 22 years if I didn’t like it, and I do— most of the time,” said Sgt. Pasko. She has a few years more in the reserves before she qualifies for retirement. But when she does, “Yes, I will retire,” she said. She enjoyed her first meal after she got off the bus— at Taco Bell. “It was awesome,” she said. “They feed you very well over there, but there’s no fast food. So that was my first thing. I was still in uniform. I got off the bus and went straight to Taco Bell,” she laughed. Sgt. Pasko has taken two weeks off, and then will return to work at the Reserve Center in Ann Arbor. She said she and her family were lucky to be living in her hometown when she was deployed to Uzbekistan. As a member of the active reserves, she has to travel all over, and the family has moved every four to five years as her assignment has changed. In Dundee, she is surrounded by family members, and they have all been very supportive of one another. Her husband, Larry, has kept the family together not only during this deployment, but also during her first deployment, during Desert Storm. Then, she was not sent overseas, but to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin where the Army in-processed soldiers, sending them overseas and taking care of them when they came back. The children were toddlers then. “I’m just patiently waiting,” said Mr. Pasko calmly, as he waited for her bus to arrive. “It’s been so hard,” said Mrs. Nash. It’s not just that they’re in dangerous situations, but that they’re gone. “We have been strong for each other,” she continued. “I would tell her she was strong and could get through this, and she’d do the same for me. Then, when she was finally back in the States to be debriefed, she called and said, ‘I’ve had enough. I’m ready to come home,’ and we both busted out crying.” Her sisters were also waiting for the bus to pull up in Ann Arbor. “I’m sick, I’m so excited,” said Dawn Stall. “I can’t wait. I got a computer and email just so I could talk to her. Now I can cancel the email. I was pregnant when she left, and now I have an eight and half-month–old baby; she hasn’t even seen him yet. I took my kids out of school and I took off work to come here.” Denise Rains said, “We’re all so excited. We took down the star flag from the window that says we’re a family with someone overseas, and put up a ‘Thank God Debbie’s Home!’ sign. We’re happy. We’re so thankful. It was a long, stressful road and we worried about her a lot.” “I hope she won’t have to leave again,” said her father. “Lots of times, people get home and then two or three months later, they send them out again. With the other countries pulling out, that’s not easy for us. We’re scared to death. But we’ll hope for the best, and make the best of the time that we’ve got.” Waiting for the bus, her son Brandon said a lot had happened since his mom was deployed. “She hasn’t seen the house yet. She doesn’t even know where she lives,” he said. The family had been living in a rented house on Dundee-Azalia Road. While Sgt. Pasko was away, they received a letter that said they had to move out by Dec. 30 because the house had been foreclosed on. The move was a surprise to Sgt. Pasko. Their landlord had said nothing about the foreclosure or the sale of the house, she said on April 25. The family was told the house would be taken down. “I contacted a lawyer, and they were able to stay there a couple of extra months, but then they had to move. The thing is, when I got home, the house was still there, and still empty. They could have let them stay until I got back. You depend on your family having a roof over their heads while you’re gone,” said Sgt. Pasko. Her husband and three sons managed to get the family moved to a house on Ypsilanti Street. “It’s not really compatible to our needs, but at least we have a place to live,” said Sgt. Pasko. “It’s just really frustrating because I wasn’t here to deal with it. They don’t stop the war so you can come home and deal with it.” She said she was looking forward to doing her own laundry, cooking her own food and cleaning up her own house. “I’ve got to take over command again,” she laughed. “My husband did a wonderful job. I have to get back in the swing of things.” There are no guarantees that she won’t be deployed again soon. “We’re all saying our prayers, that we will get a break,” said Sgt. Pasko. “But when the president says they need you, you go.”
	Sgt. Debbie Pasko of Dundee wept tears of joy as she embraced her husband after getting off the bus at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Ann Arbor on Thursday, April 22. She had been gone from her family for 10 months, serving with the Army in Uzbekistan as part of the war in Afghanistan. See story, page 7A.

	Sgt. Pasko's bus gets the red carpet treatment coming into Ann Arbor.

		Returning Sgt. Debbie Pasko greets her sister, Dawn Stall.