This Thanksgiving, spent with family and friends feasting on turkey and stuffing and all the fixings will be bitter sweet for one Pawleys Island couple. Staff Sergeant Bernard Sherman and Keisha, his wife of 11 years, are enjoying their anniversary this Saturday, and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays together. But they know Bernard will be leaving to serve our country in Afghanistan shortly after they bring in the new year together. And they don’t know how long this tour will last. “They haven’t disclosed that information yet,” Bernard said. Serving in the U.S. Army for 22 years, Bernard is a section chief working in communications with the 1-178 Field Artillery Battalion in Georgetown. This is the second time he and his wife have faced his deployment to war-torn areas of the world. For a year in 2004 and 2005, he served in Iraq.
Serving in Iraq
“That first tour was really hard,” Keisha said. “We have a little experience for this tour, so we kind of know what to expect.” She said she is behind him 100 percent and it is a little easier with her large family around her. “Like I always tell him, when I said I do, I signed up for this,” Keisha said. In 2004, Bernard left two days before Keisha’s birthday and he missed Thanksgiving, Christmas and their anniversary. “At least we brought New Years in together over the phone,” Keisha said. Bernard remembers that long-distance conversation. “Everybody was screaming in the background when the clock struck 12 and we just kept talking to each other,” Bernard said. This year, the holidays will include the Sherman’s parents, brothers and sisters and their many nieces and nephews. Also, a friend of Bernard’s from his first tour, Specialist Stephen Marthers and his fiancé, Mary, will join them for Thanksgiving dinner. “He just got back from another tour,” Bernard said. “We are like brothers in a sense.”
Serving our country
Bernard said serving our country is one of his greatest joys. “I love what I do,” he said. “When complete strangers come up and say ‘Job well done,’ that means something to me,” Bernard said. “I wouldn’t want to work in any other field.” He said during this tour, he will be assisting in reconstruction of provinces and bringing people together. “Our mission will be to get local people and the government to build better relationships of trust between them,” Bernard said.
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Some Georgetown County officials believe a disputed hurricane evacuation route will be in place within five years if private money pays for it.The $600 million to build the road will possibly be repaid to the private company by tolls placed on drivers. Will you use the road if tolls are collected?
