Far from home, close to their hearts
Waukesha, Wisconsin man stationed in Iraq

By LISA BABAIAN - Special to the Freeman

Sgt. Aaron James Hoffer, a Waukesha native, is serving his country in Iraq.

My brother, Sgt. Aaron James Hoffer, only son of Angelika and Eckhard Hoffer, grew up in Waukesha and graduated from Waukesha South High School in 1997. Being uncertain of a career goal, he only knew that he wanted to serve our country as a defender of our freedom. So he joined the U.S. armed forces.

The next six months would be a very difficult and emotional time for our family, including our mother and father, Aaron’s younger sister, myself and his only niece, who at the time was only 11 years old and very attached to her uncle. We were all affected very much by my brother’s choice, but we knew this was very important to him. I know this was a difficult time in his life, too. Leaving his family for three years would be very hard.

We have always been a very close family and have learned to appreciate the time we can spend together now.

He completed his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. Later he went on to infantry division and attended airborne school in Fort Campbell, Ky. Soon after he was sent to Kosovo where he served as a peacekeeper. He found it a very rewarding experience which he will cherish for a lifetime.

Before his three-year enlistment was up he was promoted to sergeant. It was at that time when the military gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse. If he agreed to re-enlist for an additional four years he would be stationed at a small base in beautiful Vincenza, Italy. He has been very happy living there for the past couple of years, doing just what he loves to do.

In March he received orders that his unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, would go to Iraq.

It was a cold night March 27. In the dark skies at midnight 1,000 soldiers prepared themselves to jump out of the jumbo C-17s over a Kurdish-controlled Bashur airfield northeast of Irbil. Each paratrooper carried on his back 120 pounds of equipment consisting of weapons, ammunition and water.

Most of the soldiers’ time there has been spent patrolling. Sometimes they patrol longer than 24 hours without any sleep, enduring raids and assisting with setting up the new government. Their surroundings are unfamiliar and hostile. Temperatures usually go above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the environment is very unclean, causing many of the soldiers to get sick. Yet they continue to protect and serve while pressing on.

Since being in Iraq, my brother has also been promoted to staff sergeant. He has proven what a capable leader he is.

At the age of 25, I feel my brother has become a very accomplished young man. My family and I admire his courage and are extremely proud of him. He has devoted his life to our country, and most importantly to God through Jesus Christ, and in any spare time he may have, he spends it reading the Bible and giving encouragement to his troops. He provides hope for those who look to him for direction and guidance and relates to them as if they are his brothers.

He is to me - as to them - a great example for all young men and women. He is an admirable leader who we can truly be proud of to serve our country.