Part of an ongoing series about how Iowa State has been impacted by the conflict in Iraq.

U.S. soldiers are stationed all over the world. Some are involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom, while others are waiting for a possible order to deploy. The soldiers and their family and friends are experiencing a mix of emotions as the war against Iraq winds down.

Downtime

An ISU soldier stationed near Iraq has left behind a sister, a fellow ISU student, who misses and waits for him every day.

Pfc. James Doolittle, sophomore in pre-business, was deployed from Ames to Fort Benning, Ga., on Feb. 5. He is a member of the 949th Medical Detachment, a unit specializing in food safety and inspection. James is a food inspector.

His sister, Libby, freshman in pre-business, said James has been in a neighboring country of Iraq since the beginning of March.

“He said he feels very safe,” she said.

An’Nyce Kelting, Doolittle’s mother, said she last spoke to James on March 20.

“I think he’s safer than some, but I do worry,” she said. “His commanding officer keeps in touch and he says, “We’re safe in our environment, for our environment.’ “

Libby and An’Nyce said it is difficult to talk to James on the phone because there is a two-second delay.

“He’s very careful in what he says on the phone,” Kelting said. “They’re not getting a lot of information about what’s going on in the war. He asks me questions.”

An’Nyce said James has sent letters to his family, which they have received, but he has not yet seen the mail they have sent to him.

“He is a little homesick,” she said.

Libby said James’ unit is in the process of waiting on their base in the Middle East before any further action.

“There’s not a lot for them to do, so they’re just kind of sitting around waiting,” Libby said. “That makes the rest of us have to wait too.”

She said James has taken up chess to pass the time in the Middle East. Libby said although James is bored, she and her family are glad he is safe.

“Whenever he calls and says he’s bored, we’re like, ‘Jim you know what? You can just be bored,’ ” she said.

An’Nyce said she uses e-mail to keep in touch with family members of the troops in the 949th Medical Detachment Unit.

She said they update each other when their loved ones call from the Middle East.

The waiting game

Though currently attending classes at Iowa State, one student says the possibility of his deployment is always on his mind.

Jeremy Jacobsen, a U.S. Marine and sophomore in political science, said he’s been waiting to receive the call letting him know of his deployment since last semester.

“We expected to go several times already but didn’t get it,” he said. “I’ve come to terms with [waiting] now since it’s been so long.”

Jacobsen said the military keeps him informed of his position in the war.

“The latest is to stay ready because even though we haven’t been invited yet, we still could be invited as a nation rebuilder,” he said.

Jacobsen said he would be honored to serve his country. In the instance that he is called to serve in the war, he said he has four days from the time he is called until he has to leave.

“If we’re going to leave anywhere longer than a couple days, we have to call them and give them the number where we’ll be,” Jeremy said.

Jeremiah Johnson, freshman in aerospace engineering and Jeremy’s neighbor and friend, said Jacobsen tries to go about his daily routine, despite the possibility of deployment looming over him.

“He’s pretty relaxed and he’s not scared at all,” Jeremiah said. “[He wants] to serve his country and be patriotic.”