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- [S106] The Mountain Press, 14 Nov 2006.
Area soldier would not hesitate to serve again
By: JOEL DAVIS, Staff Writer November 14, 2006
SEVIERVILLE - Cpl. Roger Sims was already a family man when he joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in 2002.
With the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, still fresh in his mind, the now 38-year-old enlisted to protect both his country and his family -wife, Krissy, and sons, Hagan, 16, and Carson, 11.
Then came the war in Iraq. Called up as part of the 2/78th Combat Regiment, Sims didn't hesitate to answer his country's call. He wouldn't now, either.
"I'd never think twice about it," Sims said. "I'd go right back. I didn't like it over there -it's a miserable situation- but I'd do it again. If it means me going back over there to keep my kids safe, that's what I'll do."
As a scout attached to the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, Sims spent his days in hazardous conditions in the deserts about 150 miles north of Baghdad. Sims came under fire more than once.
"It was different every day," he said. "There was a lot of stress. You never knew one minute to the next what would happen. You didn't know who the enemy was. Everybody looked the same.
"If we were doing raids and stuff, we would stay out until it was over. During the elections, we stayed out all the time. We'd find a mountain top where we could watch over several different villages and watch for any kind of movement."
Arriving in Iraq in November 2004, Sims came home in October 2005. He missed his family each and every day.
"It was tough," he said. "That was the hardest part. I have a wife and two kids."
Sims is now back at work in the Gatlinburg Water Department, supervising maintenance crews. When asked about his return to ordinary life in Sevier County, he laughed.
"It was tough getting back into just civilian life, " Sims said. "I still have days that are hard. In the military, everything is structured. Wow, it's different."
Although he received much support from the community, Sims said the national debate about the war hurts the troops serving overseas.
"For the most part, I felt like we got a lot of support. I don't like to see the direction things are going in right now. It's not good for soldiers over there when they hear about all the fussing and fighting over here. You're in a bad enough situation over there, you don't need to feel that people over here are against you, whether they are or not. Everybody here was very positive."
Sims also wants people to know the military has accomplished a great deal in helping make life better for average Iraqis.
"I still don't like to watch the news," he said. "A lot of what is reported is just taken out of context We did a lot of good things over there. Schools and churches were built, villages that never had running water has wells dug . . . their infrastructure really came a long away."
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
36074 THOMAS HUSTON SIMS JANELLA SUTTON
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name Bride's First Name Bride's Maiden Name County Date of Marriage File #
SIMS ROGER E KRISTIN H [NOT GIVEN] SEVIER 12-19-1987 60445
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
74420 ROGER EDWIN SIMS KRISTIN DONNA HAMMONDS
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