SHSU Faculty Member's Sons Returning To Iraq
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Justin, left, and
Jeremy Zelbst |
One was in an airport in Dallas Thursday morning, the other
at Fort Drum, which is near the Canadian border in upstate New
York. Both are sons of Pam Zelbst, assistant professor in management
at Sam Houston State University. They both expected to be back
in Iraq in a few hours.
Justin Zelbst, 27, is a sergeant with the U. S. Army's 10th
Mountain Division. In Iraq he is assigned to a unit with the
intriguing name of Task Force Ghost.
Very secretive. "I can't tell you anything about what we
do." No details, but basically they apprehend "high
value individuals."
"We snatch them up and turn them over to the Iraqi authorities."
Justin just yesterday celebrated his 4th year in the U. S. Army
and intends to make it his career. He graduated from Klein High
School and attended Blinn College before joining up. He's on
his second tour of duty in Iraq and has spent some 20 months
there. He could be there up to another 7-8 months, he estimates.
Jeremy Zelbst, 26 and just 11 months younger than his brother,
is a specialist with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which
was stationed at Fort Hood before being deployed to Iraq. He
is also a Klein High graduate and attended Sam Houston State
for three years before beginning his military service.
His job is to drive his company commander around in a High Mobility
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, also known as an HMMWV or Humvee.
One of the favorite things he has done while in Iraq happened
recently when his unit was protecting their engineers who were
repairing potholes in a road.
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Sarah and Justin
Zelbst |
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Jeremy and Lesley
Glameyer |
What could have been a deadly dangerous mission at any time
on that day was what Jeremy called a "goodwill mission."
The unit had collected candy and toys, some of which were sent
by Sam Houston State University faculty members, and were giving
them out to the kids.
"The kids love it," he said. "Their parents love
it. They can't just go shopping every day, like we would run
to Wal-Mart."
Pam Zelbst's teaching colleague Vic Sower directed the toy and
candy collection project. A frequent visitor in Zelbst's office
is Lesley Glameyer, a sophomore SHSU elementary education major
from Anderson who is more than just a close friend to Jeremy.
"Having two sons in Iraq is extremely trying on Lesley,
Charles (their father), and myself," said Pam, who earned
two degrees at SHSU. "Obviously we can't avoid the news
and when we hear about a soldier who has lost his life or is
wounded, it is almost like you hold your breath until they identify
who was lost.
"After I realize that it is not one of my sons then I feel
relief immediately accompanied by a deep sadness because I realize
that some parent has just lost their child."
Jeremy has no doubt that we are winning the battle for the hearts
and minds of the Iraqi people.
"It (the candy and toy distribution) will help in the long
run with the kids mentally, toward us," he said.
"I personally think that what we're doing (overall) is
a good thing and we're doing a good job," he said.
His older brother agrees, but says the Iraqi military needs
to become tougher and its soldiers less inclined to a philosophy
that everything that happens is God's will.
The U. S. military effort is "very effective," he
said, "but as long as the Iraqi military doesn't stand
up and fight for their country, we've got to stay there.
"I'm not putting down their religion, but that mindset
does not produce a fighter, a guy who will defend his country."
—END—
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
March 20, 2008
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