Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — It's Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Tappin's third deployment overseas, but this time, it's different.
"Last time I didn't have a wife and kids. But we're ready to do what we need to do and come back and look forward to the next thing. It can be a little bit challenging. Who wants to step away from family for a time? But it's what we signed up for," Tappin said Saturday.
His first two deployments were in Iraq. This time, he and his unit are headed to Powidz, Poland, which is considered a military hub for all of northern Europe.
The Tappin family was among dozens of military families gathered at Fort Douglas Saturday for a farewell ceremony for some 70 soldiers of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Soldiers with the 191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and the 478th Human Resources Company, both based in Salt Lake City, will serve in support of U.S. military operations in Poland doing everything from supply and fuel acquisition and distribution to delivering the mail.
Tappin and his wife, Dyanne, have three children, ages 3, 6 and 8.
... that aspect of leaving family and home, it's what every soldier signs up to go do but it never gets easier.
–Lt. Col. William Christensen
Dyanne Tappin said she has mixed emotions about her husband's departure.
"We're super proud of him and what he does, but certainly sad that he's leaving. But we'll be OK. We're very proud of him and his unit," she said.
Lt. Col. William Christensen, commander of the 191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, thanked families for their love and support of their spouses, children, parents, siblings and other loved ones as they prepared to deploy to Poland.
"I'm proud of our soldiers. We're ready to do what we've got to do. But that aspect of leaving family and home, it's what every soldier signs up to go do but it never gets easier. It's not like running a marathon, where you just get used to it. It's difficult. But I'm proud of my folks and and proud of what we're going to go do," Christensen said.
Like so many of the reservists in the battalion he commands, he is leaving behind family as well, his wife of 26 years, six children ages 24 to 8, his mother, siblings and other relatives.
"We're all here (in the Salt Lake area) so they're going to take care of each other," he said.
Powidz is in western Poland, "about three hours west of Warsaw and about three hours east of Berlin," Christensen explained.
As part of the deployment ceremony, the battalion's flag was encased and will remain so until it is unfurled in Powidz.
"We're excited to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NATO allies and say, 'The United States is here and we're ready to stand with you,' " Christensen said.
