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Local soldier on his way to IraqBy MaryHelen Swanson Thereís a little three-year-old boy in rural Harris who likes to play Army by donning tiny fatigues. He even has his own dog tags. He wants to be an ìArmy guyî like his daddy. But then, at times he wants to be a cowboy like Woody, or spaceman like Buzz Lightyear, too. Heís full of imagination and sports the cutest smile as he plays busily with his toys, but this little guy will be missing his daddy this Christmas. His father, Pfc. Jason Hatfield is in Kuwait right now and in a week or so will be moving into Iraq. Then his exact whereabouts will be unknown to his support group back home. That support group consists of his wife, Mariah, his mother and father Mary and Tim Stancek and his in-laws Pam and David Anderson. And of course, little Gavin Jay Hatfield, as he likes to call himself. Letters, e-mails and phone calls will be going back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean for the next 12 months or so. ìThey said to plan for a year,î Mariah said. Jason Hatfield, a 1997 graduate of North Branch High School, felt compelled to join the Army after Sept. 11. He had, according to his family, seen a commercial about joining and said it was something he had to do. He signed up in May 2002. Most recently Hatfield had been stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash., and he, Mariah and Gavin lived just south of Tacomah. On Nov. 14, Jason was deployed to Kuwait and Mariah and Gavin came home to Harris to live with Mariahís parents for the next year. Mariah will pass the time working and taking some classes, and caring for lively little Gavin. Gavin will race toy motorcycles on grandmaís hardwood floor, dress up as one of his favorite characters now and again, go to day care and stay with an aunt sometimes. ìAnything I can do to help keep his spirits up, I will,î said his mom. ìJason, Mariah and Gavin have given up a lot and put their lives on hold for three years,î she said, ìfor this (his father and I) are thankful and proud of all three of them.î After basic training, Jason worked as a fire support specialist in the Army. Mariah said heís in training now in Kuwait, but she is not sure what his job will be when he goes to Iraq. ìEveryone is proud of him,î was the consensus of those gathered at the Anderson home Sunday. But Mariah misses him already. There have been phone calls from Kuwait, like the day after Thanksgiving. Coming in to Kuwait City, Mariah said, Jason found it to be very interesting, a place he might even like to go back to some day for a visit. The family plans to send a digital camera to Jason for Christmas so he can take lots of pictures. Gavin also has something special to send. Last weekend he had a visit with Santa Claus and he told him his daddy was in the Army. Santa gave Gavin a sucker for his dad and Gavinís going to send it to him for Christmas. Jasonís hometown support group is comforted by the fact that Jason has friends over there also. That, and the fact that they know how close the soldiers get in their units, and how they care for and watch out for each other like family members. Jason likes the training and his work in the military, Pam Anderson said. Mariah agreed, noting that Jason has done very well in the Army and has received a number of promotions. Heíll be getting E-4 soon, she said. ìHeís got a really positive attitude,î Jasonís mom said. It will be a long year, but the family is hoping heíll be home for Christmas 2004. Hatfield will be in the Army until May 2005. Mariah expects that she and Jason and Gavin will come home to the Harris area to settle down then. Since both Jason and Mariah graduated from North Branch High School in 2000, Mariah thought Jason might like to hear from some of his hometown friends. His address is: His e-mail address is: jasonrhatfield@hotmail.com. Gavin keeps an 8 x 10 picture of his daddy in his room, along with a photo of his mom, dad and him on July 4th when they watched the fireworks together. Mariah plans to put a map of the world on the wall to help Gavin understand where daddy is now. He adjusts well to changes, Mariah said, and is used to his dad being gone for a month or so already. When you ask him where his daddy is now, he says, ìMy daddyís in Washington.î And thatís close enough when youíre three years old. ©ECM Post Review |