Coming full circle

Note: This article originally appeared in the Feb. 10, 2010 edition of Family Security Matters.

The last time Tim and Marsha Hunt made the trip to Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center was the fall of 2004, when their son, Sgt. Joseph “Joey” Hunt, was preparing to deploy with Tennessee’s 278th Regimental Combat Team.

The Hunts made the trip again this past weekend, to see off the more than 3,000 National Guardsmen who are returning to Iraq with what is now known as the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

“Every time you watch soldiers leave or come home, it’s one of the hardest things we do,” Mr. Hunt said.

They know firsthand that for the 8,000-plus family members and friends in attendance, it was a day of conflicting emotions of pride and apprehension as they watched the Formation and Pass in Review of their soldiers before saying their goodbyes.

But the Hunt’s anxiety was unlike that of most families in attendance.

Joey was killed in Iraq on August 22, 2005, when insurgents detonated two anti-tank mines under the Humvee he was driving.

In the years since, the Hunts have lived every moment with the sting of their 27-year-old’s death. But what could have turned into bitterness for the Sweetwater, Tennessee couple has instead grown into an even deeper love of country and pride in the military.

“Joey loved the guys he served with. He loved what he was doing,” his father said.

Today, the Hunts continue to carry on Joey’s dedication to the cause by ensuring his sons – now 10 and 7 – know their dad was a hero who loved them, his comrades and his country with all his heart. And they’ve found that the best way to keep his memory alive is by supporting the military – those who have been killed in action, veterans, and the men and women currently serving – through every opportunity that surfaces.

“Our job is to see to it that these guys getting ready to deploy aren’t forgotten, either,” Marsha said. “And if we have anything to say about it, they won’t be.”

That said, it should come as no surprise that the Hunts never had a moment’s hesitation when the invitation to attend the ceremonies at Camp Shelby was extended.

“Just being there – being around the soldiers helps so much, because they are a part of Joey.”

In many ways, the Hunts have come full circle since that August day in 2005. While nothing can ever bring their son back, they know that no IED could ever destroy the love they have for him. And through the men and women who continue the mission, Joey’s spirit will never be far away.

“We (went) in with our eyes open, this time,” Mrs. Hunt said. “Unfortunately, we know it can’t always be someone else’s son who doesn’t come home.”