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October 3, 2007
SPRINGFIELD -- "War is hell" is a phrase attributed to Civil War Union General William T. Sherman in the late 1800s. It's been backed up by hundreds of thousands of soldiers since then but it's not just the soldiers who know it to be true.
On a late summer night in Springfield, not many things say America more than gospel bluegrass music and a family picnic. One picnic, though, decked out in red, white and blue, was also a familiar farewell for a soldier son, who is also a soldier husband and a soldier dad.
Army Spc. Robert Leidy, 28, was on a short leave recently during his second deployment to Iraq since he joined the Army in 2002. The Fair Grove native is stationed at Camp Falcon, south of Baghdad with the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Brigade Special Troops Battalion. His job is to work face to face with Iraqi citizens.
“We deal with local people's claims of missing persons reports, people coming in to find husbands or wives that we detain,” said Leidy.
While Leidy is away fighting in Iraq, his family struggles for a sense of normalcy here at home.
“I get asked a lot, how do I do it?. I say day by day,” said Molly Leidy.
“I think she has tougher job that I do, to be honest,” said her husband.
That job includes raising their two young boys. While Robert is away, Molly has to play two roles for 2-year-old Ryan and 7-year-old Jason. And little Jason takes it especially hard when dad's not around.
“He gets angry when dad's away for too long,” said his mother.
“He acts out in temper tantrums once in a while,” said Robert Leidy.
And worse.
“When his dad joined the Army, he got on the phone and said 'Daddy come home.' Dad said 'I can't.' He threw the phone down and never spoke again until Robert came back. So it's had a tremendous impact,” said Molly Leidy. “With Jason, I have to spend more time with him. That extra attention daddy gave him, I've got to give him, too.
“It's hard on everybody. There are a lot of breakdowns, honestly.”
Their pain at home is dad's pain in the war zone.
“That has more effect on me than other stuff,” he said.
When dad was home on leave, all was well. The kids were playing, aunts were dancing, and grandpa was singing. The Leidy family enjoyed the day, knowing that the next day would again separate them from their son, husband, dad, and soldier.
“Just tell 'em I’ll be home soon. That’s all I can do,” said the soldier.
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