HARRINGTON, Del. - Dr. Jill Biden visited with Delaware National Guard Soldiers who are about to deploy to Afghanistan here Saturday.
“I want you to know,” she told members of the 1049th Transportation Company and their families and friends gathered at the state fairgrounds here, “that this country appreciates your courage and your strength.
“And that the first lady and I are doing everything we can to encourage all Americans to show that support through our Joining Forces effort.”
Biden is the wife of Vice-President Joe Biden and mother of the Delaware National Guard’s Army Capt. Beau Biden.
For many of the Soldiers this will be their second, and in some cases third, deployment to support overseas contingency operations.
Brothers Army Spc. Kaniela Ramil and Army Pfc. Andre Ramil are deploying for the second time together and draw strength from each other’s presence.
“Having that camaraderie with my brother helped me out,” Kaniela Ramil said, speaking of their previous deployment. “The 1049th is a good unit and we will do well.”
His brother Andre Ramil added, “Going on this deployment with my brother gives me a sense that I can treat the whole 1049th like family.”
Although the Ramils will have each other’s support, most of the Soldiers in the 1049th must leave their loved ones behind.
Army Sgt. Russell Fiske has been married seven months.
“The hardest part,” he said, “is learning to live with each other while doing all the deployment stuff on top of that.”
Wife Bethany tries to keep a positive outlook. “It’s very hard,” she said. “Especially being newlywed – but I am very proud of him.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware told the troops about improvements to the GI Bill and veterans’ health care currently before congress.
“At the end of Vietnam this nation did something I trust we will never do again in failing to support our veterans” said Coons. “The men and women who represent you, support the men and women who serve you.”