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THE POST -ST AN D AR D/Monday, Feb. 25, 1991/PAGE A*SCNY Units in ActionFamilies Share Fears as Ground War BeginsBy SEAN KIRSTThe Posi-StandzrdThe baby is due in about a month, and Sharon Romer says that whenever she thinks or speaks of her husband, the child moves within her womb — a pleasant reminder,” she says, her voice soft.For the past few days, that motion has rarely stopped.U.S. Army Private David Romer, 18, of East Syracuse is driving an armored personnel carrier somewhere in or near Kuwait. Last week, Romer called to tell his family that he was weary of waiting for the invasion of that country.His wait ended Saturday, when the United States and its allies launched their ground war against Iraqi forces.“The worst part is when you hear about the casualties, and you don’t know,” Sharon Romer, 18, said Sunday. “You don't know anything. I realize we have to take care of Saddam (Hussein), but this alwaysputs you on the edge.”Other relatives of servicemen and servicewomen expressed similar jumbled feelings about the ground war — relief that something is finally happening combined with the same nagging fear.Jimmie White of North Syracuse, for instance, is with the U.S. Navy “Beachmasters” — a special crew that participates in seizing beachheads through amphibious landings.His wife, Diane, knows the odds are good that he’ll encounter the enemy. It doesn’t make for art easy vigil.“I don't want to see a military car pulling into my driveway,” said Diane White, 22, whose husband has never held their 3-month-old daughter, Alexandra. White said Jimmie’s job is so dangerous that he would never elaborate for her on exactly what he does.Melinda Lockwood of Fayetteville stayed up until 2 a.m. Sunday“The worst part is when you hear about the casualties, and you don’t know. You don’t know anything.”SHARON ROMER wife of Army privatewatching an old movie simply to keep her thoughts away from the numbing banter and speculation by journalists and analysts cut off from real news.Her son, Jason, is a member of Bravo Company's 8th Tank Battalion, a Marine reserve unit from Mattydale that is deployed with the 2nd Marine Division in Saudi Arabia.She, too, worries that Iraq is holding back on its deadliest weapons — although she’s surprised andpleased by reports of smooth progress in the early phases of the invasions.How can you not feel encouraged?” she asked.Floyd Ratliff Jr. of Syracuse hopes the success of those tanks and troops is helping ensure a quick reunion with his wife, Barbara.Ratliff is among the legion of homefront house fathers created by the war. His wife is an Army nurse who was called up in December. Floyd Ratliff said she’ll tend to allied casualties at a support hospital.“My son, he’s 9 years old and he watches the news a lot, and he worries,” said Ratliff, who’s caring alone for the couple’s two children until his wife returns. “But this is something we had to do. The faster they go in and get it over with, the faster she’ll get home.”For Sandy Romer, David Romer’s mother, the best way to deal with the absence of her son isto stay as busy as possible — advice she's handed down to her daughter-in-law.In 1966, she lost a husband — Albert Rising — who was shot and died on a Vietnamese battlefield.She later married Donald Romer, another Vietnam veteran. Now they wait for scraps of news about their youngest son.Her husband spends a lot of time in his workshop. She babysits during the day and does household chores in the evening — before finally burying herself in news of the war.And she cries easily — whenever she hears a patriotic song, or goes to a rally, or recalls their son as an infant or a schoolboy.“Sure, you flash back,” she says. “He was a baby, our baby, and I think about that. I think I've got that right.”William LaRue contributed to this report.
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Post Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Mon, Feb 25, 1991
Page 90
Full Page
Clipped by
Sarah K.
NA, 24 Aug 2021
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