Soldiers enjoy quiet holiday

Henry Carr was watching his kids open gifts via Skype from Iraq on Christmas Day last year when duty called.

Local Idaho Army National Guard soldiers endured the first attack on their base during their deployment that day.

“It was unforgettable,” said Sgt. 1st Class Carr, of Hayden. “We were watching our families open presents and, before we knew it, mortars were going off. We had only been there a couple weeks.

“I told my wife (Julie) that I’d have to call her back and made something up so she wouldn’t spend the rest of the day freaked out.”

No one was injured in the attack.

Soldiers serving with the Post Falls-based 145th Brigade Support Battalion, part of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, returned home a few months ago and are enjoying a quieter Christmas with families this year.

“It’s nice to be back home for the holidays,” Carr said. “When we were away, soldiers stuck together and made the best of it, but it wasn’t home.”

Children of soldiers are also thankful this year.

“It’s more fun and safer when he’s here,” said Carr’s 12-year-old son Aaron. “It’s nice that he gets to spend time with us this year and that we get to see him more. It was lonely last year.”

Aaron said his activities in recent days, including watching movies, putting up the Christmas tree and going to Skate Plaza, have been more enjoyable with his dad around.

Local Guard soldiers have a lot to reflect on this Christmas.

Two Coeur d’Alene soldiers — Sgt. Nathan Beyers, 24, and Spc. Nicholas Newby, 20 — were killed on July 7 by an improvised explosive device. A third soldier, Staff Sgt. Jason Rzepa, 30, of Hayden, sustained leg injuries during the attack that resulted in a double amputation below his knees.

Rzepa (pronounced Zeppa), who recently received his prosthetics, is home for a few weeks before heading back to a military hospital in Texas. He spent part of Friday ice fishing with Carr, his platoon sergeant, and remains strong mentally.

“Everything is going well,” Rzepa said. “I pretty much can do whatever I want. The only bad part is stairs.

“I put my legs on in the morning and I’m the same person. The only difference is that I sleep without my legs.”

Rzepa said he plans to snowboard next week with his 7-year-old son Kohl and wife Cassandra.

Rzepa said he has a lot to be thankful for this Christmas, especially after what he’s been through and since it’s the first Christmas with the couple’s son Collin.

“I have a life waiting for me here,” he said, adding that he may go to college to be a teacher or be a stay-at-home dad after he returns around June.

Cassandra has been by Rzepa’s side in Texas.

“It’s been wonderful to be home for Christmas and be with family,” she said. “Jason is doing amazingly well and he keeps getting better and better.”

Carr takes satisfaction in that the soldiers’ time away from home was for an important mission.

“A lot of what we did was getting soldiers, contractors and supplies from point A to point B,” he said. “I thought that was extremely rewarding.”

Also rewarding, he said, was serving with soldiers such as Rzepa, who he’s known since middle school. Carr helped orchestrate Rzepa’s rescue.

“It’s good to see he’s alive and getting on with his life,” Carr said of Rzepa. “I’m sure he still has his days — we all do — but he’s still happy and has the opportunity to live a fulfilled life. That puts a smile on my face.”