Heading to Afghanistan

Published 11:22 pm Saturday, March 28, 2009

VALDOSTA — Jason Richardson describes his first National Guard deployment to Iraq as “intense.” For example, he said he was traveling with a convoy of about five vehicles one time when an Improvised Explosive Device, or “Daisy Chain,” detonated beside the road. This set off a series of explosions. Luckily, none of their vehicles were damaged. He said the sound of the explosions was like standing on a runway while a jet is taking off.

He is one of the local Guardsmen to be honored April 8 during the Best Buddies Appreciation Dinner.

Richardson serves with the Georgia National Guard, 48th Brigade, Alpha 2-121 Infantry unit. He is 31 years old, and a 1995 graduate of the Echols County school system. Raised in Howell, Jason is a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, pastored by the Rev. James White. When he’s not serving his country overseas with Alpha Company, Jason’s full-time employer is John Deere Water Technologies in Valdosta.

Jason joined the Army in 1995 and was stationed in Korea for one year. He worked there as a record telecommunications operator and maintainer. His job was to relay information on a secure telephone line in the manner of a switchboard operator. He required a top-secret security clearance. Jason worked in an underground bunker and said it was a fairly boring job.

He completed his active duty at Fort Gordon, Ga., in 1999, and joined Alpha Company in 2002. His first deployment with the National Guard was in 2005 to Iraq. He was gone for a total of 15 months. In November 2005, Jason was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He said one of his jobs in Iraq was patrolling Baghdad neighborhoods in search of insurgents.

At present, Alpha Company spends each week training at Fort Stewart in Jacksonville, Fla., preparing for its upcoming deployment. He said Guardsmen engage in standard types of training, such as firing-range practice, cultural-awareness classes to instruct them how best to interact with Afghan nationals, etc. They undergo physical training every morning at 0600. When Alpha Company goes to Fort Shelby, Miss. after the Best Buddies Appreciation Dinner, Jason said the types of training they receive will be similar to what they’re doing now, but with added variety.

Jason said he joined the military to do his part in protecting and securing the U.S. for future generations. During his first deployment, Jason said he always kept in mind that “someone, somewhere is always worse off than you are.”

He said his best memory from that time is the smile on the kids’ faces whenever he gave them anything.

“It seemed that if you gave them the smallest gift, they would be happy for many days to come,” he said.

One of his favorite quotes comes from Gen. Colin Powell: “The day a soldier stops bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded you don’t care.”

Jason is married to Leticia Richardson, also 31. They have been married 11 years. Leticia has been employed with the Department of Human Resources for the past three years. Originally from Valdosta, she was raised in Orlando, Fla.

Their daughter Laila is five years old and a kindergartner at Dewar Elementary School. Laila is very independent and helps direct the interview, reminding her mom not to answer questions asked of Jason, and insists on answering questions put to her on her own.

“Laila is very happy, spoiled, and full of energy,” Jason said. She loves Hannah Montana and studies ballet at Gerlock Dance Studios. She also likes the new Wii games her parents bought her.

“She is very much a daddy’s girl all the way,” Jason said.

Leticia said the deployment was scary for her. Laila was going through the terrible twos, which helped a lot, she said. She had to stay very busy looking after her daughter, which kept her mind off where Jason was and what he might be doing. Laila was too young during Jason’s first deployment to really know what was going on, she said.

Leticia said her trick for keeping her stress level down is to keep busy and stay positive. She also spends a lot of time with her family. She and Laila will be sending Jason lots of letters and care packages, she said.

“My family supported me when I made the decision to join, and during the deployment they kept my morale level up by the numerous letters and care packages they sent,” Jason said.

Jason’s mother, Dianne Richardson, teaches in the Clinch County School System. His father, Mervin Richardson, is employed with PCS Phosphate in White Springs, Fla. Jason has one sibling, Teresa Cave (Tyrone) of Virginia Beach, Va. He asked that we not omit to mention his grandmother, Emily Canady of Howell, his grandfather, the late Rev. Willie James Canady Sr., and his best friend/brother of 24 years who also serves in Alpha Company, sergeant first class Charles Williams of Clyattville.

Leticia’s father is Andres Rivera, currently of Orlando, Fla. He too served in the military, with the Air Force. Her mother is Betty Warren-McCollough of Valdosta, first lady of Thessalonian Baptist Church, pastored by her step-father, E.J. McCollough. Leticia has two brothers, Kendrix Warren-Williams, and Travis Warren.