Call-to-duty ceremony for members of the Ohio National Guard’s 838th Military Police Company draws overflow crowd in Austintown Heroes send-off

By PATRICIA MEADE

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

HILE MICHAEL SHEELY’S
soldier dad is away on a year-long mission, the 5-year-old has his own orders: “To be a good boy and protect mom from the bad guys.”

The shy Mineral Ridge boy, dressed in a black Army T-shirt, combat-gray cap and shorts, grinned and nodded when asked if he’ll follow the orders.

Michael’s dad, Pfc. David Sheely Sr., is with the Ohio National Guard’s 838th Military Police Company being deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The little boy stood with a family friend near the Austintown Middle School auditorium doors Saturday afternoon while his mom Tracey took photos of her husband and his fellow soldiers in formation. The call-to-duty ceremony for the 175 military police drew an overflow crowd.

Lisa Whitt, who stood watch over Michael, said he has two older brothers, David Jr., who’s now in basic training for military service, and Travis, 17. Michael nodded when asked if he is proud of his dad. The child of few words communicated mostly with grins and nods.

Expecting the best

The 838th is expected to leave Monday for two months’ training at Camp Shelby, Miss. before deploying overseas.

The soldiers’ families have known since April that they’d be deployed in October, said Master Sgt. Rob Whited, an Austintown police officer the past 12 years. The notice gave everyone time to make whatever arrangements were necessary, including who will cut the grass, he said. Whited and his wife Michele have a son, Ethan, 2.

“It’s harder on the spouses,” Whited said. “We expect the worst and hope for the best.”

A long table outside the auditorium held “Giving Dolls,” a creation of Jan Householder of Wadsworth. The dolls, made by volunteers, were provided free to the soldiers’ children (12 and under).

Householder said 1,145 dolls were made the past 18 months for distribution wherever they are needed, including hospitals. The girl dolls have aprons, the boy dolls are in military uniform.

Capt. Andrea Hilton, 838th company commander, said close to 60 percent of the unit’s soldiers are married. Several of the marriages, she said, took place in the last two weeks.

Hilton, a 28-year-old biologist at Chagrin Valley Engineering in Bedford, has been married about 1 1/2 years. She met her husband at an officer course in Missouri. He’s now a structural engineer.

“He’s very understanding — he was deployed twice before we were married,” said Hilton, a 10-year veteran of the 838th. “We’ll use e-mail and phone to keep in touch.”

Words of thanks

As the soldiers filed into the auditorium, small flags waved from the audience, clapping mingled with whistles and cheers and “The Field Artillery Song” (“over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail, and those caissons go rolling along”) played on the sound system.

The somber-faced men and women, dressed in gray combat uniforms with American flag patches on the right shoulder, were swarmed by photographers — some professional, some not.

“Thank you for your sacrifices. Without them we would not enjoy the freedoms we have today,” Adjutant General Greg Wayt told crowd. “Take care of the mission and bring every soldier back a year from now.”

He then asked the 838th MPs to stand and turn around to face those assembled. “These are your heroes,” he said to loud applause.

Among the guest speakers was U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th. “We are fighting for the security of the world. You are fighting a noble cause,” he said.

Ryan presented Hilton with an American flag and state Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd, a pilot with the Air Force Reserve, presented an Ohio flag to the unit. Boccieri said he wants the flag back a year from now, to present to soldiers deploying then.

“This Mahoning Valley, Ohio and America are proud of you,” Boccieri said. “Godspeed — God bless, return home safe.”

meade@vindy.com