Support from home makes service easier

When Stefanie Simi announced she was joining the National Guard, her family was surprised, and more than a little worried.

Stefanie Simi is pictured at a sendoff ceremony at Fort Dix with her father, Greg. A 2001 graduate of East Brunswick High School, Stefanie had not previously expressed any interest in the service. She was doing well in school and seemed to be enjoying college life.

"She told me it was only one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, and that it was a good way to earn money for school," her mother, Kathleen, recalled. "Of course, I knew it could be a lot more than that."

Her mother's misgivings came true when Stefanie was called up for active duty, followed by her first tour in Iraq.

"She was always such a girlie girl [that], at first, I couldn't imagine her being a soldier. But then I thought about how responsible and disciplined she is, and how organized and determined, and I realized that's what makes a really good soldier," Kathleen said.

During her first deployment, Stefanie was stationed in Tikrit at one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, now known as Camp Danger.

"She was actually sleeping in the ballroom. They set up plywood partitions as room dividers. I sent her some paint and she painted her walls pink," her mother said with a laugh. "At night, she could lie on her bed and see the chandeliers in the ceiling."

Stefanie worked in communications with the Army's Signal Corps.

"We were terrified when she first went, but things actually worked out well for her there," Kathleen said. "Still, we were all so relieved when she came home."

After that tour, Stefanie went back to school at Rutgers University, earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and was looking for a job when she was notified that she was being called back to Iraq. She canceled her interviews, and her older sister, Valerie, pushed up her wedding date so Stefanie could attend.

"We were a little better prepared the second time, but one of the things that worries us most is the transportation," her mother said as she remembered one harrowing experience.

Stefanie had arrived in Kuwait but was having difficulty getting to her assignment in Baghdad.

"There were sandstorms and the helicopters couldn't get through," Kathleen said. On the night Stefanie was supposed to be leaving, her family heard news of a helicopter crash.

"It was hours before she called and we knew she was all right. That was the worst night of my life," Kathleen said.

That was one of the few times her daughter has called home. Like most personnel in Iraq, her communication with home is mostly through the Internet. Her father, Greg, emails Stefanie every day, and they often send each other instant messages.

"He writes about what's going on at home, and I never read them but he is very dedicated about putting the daily countdown to her return home," Kathleen said.

Stefanie, now a sergeant, doesn't have much time for chitchat.

She currently works in a Baghdad detention center, processing prisoners from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. six days a week. Exhausted after the shifts, she said there is little downtime for anything but sleeping.

"For fun, I go to the gym and just hang out with some of my friends here," Stefanie said in an email to Greater Media Newspapers. "One thing that I miss a lot about home is shopping. I love to shop and I miss being able to go to the mall and buy some new clothes. And I miss just having the freedom to go wherever I want."

Her mother often sends care packages, but recently Stefanie received a surprise from the Breakers, an under-16 girls team with the East Brunswick Soccer Club. Stefanie, her sister Valerie and brother Zack had all played on teams in the soccer club. Stefanie also played varsity soccer all through high school.

When the Breakers heard that one of their own was stationed in Iraq, the team decided to put together a special package.

"All the girls were more than happy to participate," coach Tom Sollecito said. "We started with an 8-by-8 box, but we kept getting more and more supplies. We ended up sending a 14-by-12 box weighing around 30 pounds." The box was filled with necessities and goodies including beef jerky, shampoo, Twizzlers, foot powder, cotton swabs, lip balm, skin cream and lollipops.

Hannah Wey, the team captain, included a note thanking Stefanie for her service. "Thank you for waking up every day willing to put yourself on the line between danger and the ones you love. We truly value your courage, your determination and your protection," Hannah wrote.

Stefanie was touched by the gift, which she shared with her fellow soldiers.

"I really want to say that I appreciate all the support that we all get from back home. It is hard being away from family and friends for so long, but to know that people have us in their thoughts, it makes every day go by easier," Stefanie wrote in her email.

Stefanie's family was also moved by the gift.

"I love that people are so generous. I'm proud that she is so brave, but I have to say there are a lot of brave soldiers out there," Kathleen said.

Stefanie is scheduled to leave Iraq in June. "I can't wait until she is home and safe on American soil," her mother said.

Stefanie's family also made note of the East Brunswick VFW Post 133, which reaches out to local soldiers and their families regularly.

"We send out packages and do what we can to provide support," said Tommy Coohill, senior vice commander at the post. Anyone interested in learning more about helping local soldiers serving overseas can contact Coohill at the VFW at 732-254- 9674.