Ramona: Makovecs, Beltzes travel to Mississippi before Simon Makovec departs for Iraq
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
There was a reason the Makovecs and Beltzes of Ramona chose Hattiesburg, Miss., as their destination for a spring break vacation — it was because Simon Makovec, who's in the Army National Guard, was stationed nearby at Camp Shelby.
"We were one big happy family in our Expedition," laughed Gail Makovec. "It holds eight passengers and there were seven of us — myself, Marissa, our daughters, Shaina and Sheila, along with Mike and Linda Beltz and their daughter, Dana." (Dana, by the way, is Simon Makovec's girlfriend of more than four years.)
Along the way the group stopped in Oklahoma. "A dozen members of my family met us for breakfast at 6 a.m. before they headed to work," said Marissa. "They gave us all kinds of gifts and cards for us to take to Simon."
The two Ramona families embarked at 3 a.m. March 13. They knew the trip would take about 17 hours and had timed it so they'd arrive right after lunch the next day — which was when Simon was supposed to be free and able to vacation with them.
"Seven hours out from our arrival we get a call from Simon wondering where we were," said Marissa. "They unexpectedly released everyone early and Simon was ready to see us!"
The trip to Mississippi wasn't just about taking a little vacation with a son, a brother, a boyfriend. There was a far greater implication — Simon would be leaving for Iraq within the next few days and everyone knew that while the vacation began with laughter and smiles, it would inevitably end with tears and goodbyes.
Simon Makovec's battalion — TF Thunder 1-125th Strike — is part of the Army National Guard's 1/34th BCT which traces its history through 1-135th Infantry Regiment to the Minnesota 1st Volunteers, who played an important role in the Union victory at Gettysburg.
The 1/34th BCT, comprised of 4,200 troops from six states (most from Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) will be deployed to Iraq any day now. Their duty will include everything from convoy security (which is Simon's assignment) to high intensity urban combat.
Besides having one last vacation before Simon departed for Iraq, the Makovecs and Beltzes were in Mississippi to attend his departure ceremonies at Camp Shelby. Parade review was conducted by governors, numerous senators, and Army personnel. Seeing thousands of soldiers marching under the American flag was a stirring sight — even in the photographs that Marissa and Gail proudly shared with me.
Getting these 4,200 soldiers from six states, training at three Army posts to Iraq is no small endeavor. It required $300 million in equipment, 720,000 meals-ready-to-eat when they were out on maneuvers, 1,409 vehicles, 1,000 trainers, 725 rail cars to carry cargo to the ships, 400 computers, 10 miles of cable, two cargo ships to get supplies to Iraq, and six months of training.
After the departure ceremonies, the Ramona families ventured on day trips from their base camp — a bed and breakfast in Hattiesburg. "The bed and breakfast owners let me take over the kitchen one night," said Marissa, "and I told Simon we'd make everything that he loved to eat." The menu included steaks and shrimp on the grill, Marissa's famous hash brown casserole, salad, and green Jell-O with marshmallows. And dessert was Simon's favorite — mom's homemade apple pie and ice cream.
The last time the Makovecs were with their son it was Christmas. On that occasion, Simon got to come home to Ramona and the Makovecs jumped in the Expedition once more and headed for Christmas in Branson.
"The Makovec side of the family was in Branson with us from Christmas until the following Wednesday," said Marissa, "and then they left and my side of the family showed up from Oklahoma and stayed through New Year's Eve."
The families did the usual "Branson thing" like attending shows and visiting Silver Dollar City, but the highlight was a special surprise they planned for Simon.
Gail and Marissa orchestrated a special evening for Simon and Dana. They gave them an evening out alone — if you can call attending the Jim Stafford singing/comedy act, an intimate affair — and the pair was seated on the very front row for dinner and the show.
Prior to their night out, Gail went to the show headquarters to make the arrangements for the evening and the guests were asked to fill out a form telling something about themselves. Gail filled out the form telling all about Simon and his impending departure to Iraq in March.
Half-way through the show Jim Stafford took a break and before commencing the second half he stopped to read the cards about the guests attending his show. When he came to Simon's card (of course, Simon knew nothing about it) he said to the crowd, "This one's special — I'll read it at the end."
So Stafford read all the comments his guests had made and then came to the card Gail had filled out about his son. "Stafford had trouble pronouncing Makovec," said Marissa, "but Simon admitted that the complicated name belonged to him." Then Simon, who was in dress uniform was asked to come up on stage, and when the crowd was told that Simon was leaving for Iraq in a couple of months they gave him a standing ovation."
After Simon sat down beside Dana, again. Stafford asked who was accompanying him and when Simon introduced Dana as his girlfriend, Stafford commented, "Look at this pretty thing — isn't that something to come back home to!"
The Makovecs bought a video of the show that night, "We have it all on tape," enthused Marissa, "Dana blushing and all! We can relive it over and over."
Once Simon returned to Mississippi he lived in full dress. "He even sleeps in full dress uniform," said Gail, "which weighs an additional 120 pounds with uniform and weapon. The soldiers are required to do this to prepare for duty in Iraq."
One of the Makovecs' pictures from this recent trip showed Simon putting his gear on his dad. "The vest he wears day and night was so heavy I couldn't hold it with just one hand," said Marissa.
"My gear weighs much more than Dana," joked Simon as he playfully picked up his petite girlfriend for one last photograph.
Another picture showed Simon smiling, talking on his cell phone. "All our family members had to call him and wish him well," said Marissa.
As Marissa handed me the picture of their trip, we came to the ones that even put a lump in my throat — the goodbye photos — the ones where everybody has red eyes, where Kleenex plays a prominent role, where nobody wants to let go.
"What's the last thing you said to Simon?" I asked Gail.
"Stay safe! We love you! Call when you can," replied Gail.
"Simon's in Iraq for one year from the moment his foot hits the sand," said Gail. And from the tone of his voice, I know that he'll be counting the days, the hours, the minutes until his son is returned, safe and sound.
Our thoughts and prayers are with this "hometown boy" who is serving his country. As the sign says in front of the Makovec home, "Land of the free, because of the brave!"
And that's the news from Ramona where we pray for Simon's safety and give thanks for his service, and wait for his return to sleepy Ramona where a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
