Military family all home for this holiday

PALMER — Christmas during wartime is an experience for the soldier away from home and the loved ones left behind. After nearly a year away from his family overseas fighting in Iraq, Brian Sullivan is one of the lucky. He’s home for the holidays.

At his family’s two-story home in Palmer, Sullivan’s two Rhodesian ridgebacks, Honey and Gidget, run through the house looking for a place to settle down next to the fireplace.

“They’re a little nervous,” Sullivan said.

Capt. Brian Sullivan returned to Palmer on Nov. 19 following 10 months in the deserts of Iraq. His demeanor is that of complete serenity, as if a weight has been taken off his shoulders, even after two back surgeries almost rendered him unable to walk.

“It’s been a bumpy ride for all of us,” he said.

Last Christmas, Sullivan had returned briefly after a tour in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After leaving for Iraq shortly thereafter, he was home again in July with his wife, Julie, and their three daughters, Molly, 12, Anne, 9, and Madeline, 7. Between long stretches of work in hostile conditions, Sullivan would write long e-mails, video conference and call whenever he could. For the kids, getting an e-mail off to Dad wasn’t as easy as expected.

“They need typing lessons. I realized right off the bat,” Julie said.

Satellite up-links and diligent communication efforts from the Army kept the Sullivans connected, which makes the time away from home less unbearable, she said. Soldiers away from home during the holidays can feel even more isolated and alone.

“The Army does an amazing job keeping families connected,” Brian Sullivan said. “I could call as much as I could afford.”

But there were times when Sullivan was on a high-risk mission and unable to communicate with his family. During these times, Sullivan wrote long letters and snail-mailed them, like his brothers in previous wars did before him. It would often take his loved ones three to four weeks to receive them, rendering Julie Sullivan a bit nervous at times, but grateful when they arrived.

Sullivan said he saw many casualties oversees in the past 10 months that made him wonder if he truly would make it home. In all, 53 from his brigade were lost to war, many very close to Sullivan.

While children may have been sleeping with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, Sullivan said he missed luxuries such as sleeping while in Iraq. Rockets firing overhead each night, along with extreme heat and general commotion, kept that from happening.

“It was really dusty and muddy all the time over there,” Sullivan said. “And you never knew what was going to happen next.”

With her husband away, Julie Sullivan said she kept busy the past year, partially to keep herself from going stir crazy in her house.

She kept the ornaments off the Christmas tree for as long as she could bear it because her cats decided to make the tree their new home.

“They’ll eat the ornaments if they stay on the tree,” she said.

All three of the couple’s daughters are involved in swimming after school and early this year Julie began working, as a librarian for Iditarod Elementary School. Sometimes keeping busy makes the time fly.

Julie Sullivan said she received oodles of support while her husband was overseas — from next-door neighbor (and fellow military wife, Tiffany Horvath) and the ladies from church. They have all offered words of advice and love, especially during devastating times.

During Thanksgiving, spirits were down, but not out as the Sullivans shared stories and turkey with other local military families struggling with a loved one overseas.

“It seems to be harder on newly married couples, with one serving in Iraq,” she said. “I tend to get used to him being gone at times, yet we support each other when the holidays are here.”

Now that Brian is home just in time for the holidays, there is a lot he wants to catch up on. His leave will keep him grounded for the next two years, giving him ample time to accomplish “family stuff,” he said.

Having her father home for Christmas hasn’t curbed the hope Santa would visit, as Anne is hoping Santa will bring her an iPod Nano; Madeline wants make-up and Molly is just happy her dad is back.

“I want to support the girls in their swimming and go to meets,” Brian Sullivan said. “I mainly want to just take it easy as well.”

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife-@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.