Home On Leave
Sgt. Drozd returns home for brief visit
By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com
Sgt. Michael Drozd has been home on leave from Iraq since Jan. 7 and is spending every waking moment with his wife Christina and their three small children: Madisen, age 6, Trey, 2, and Rhiley, 1.

Special Visitor Sgt. Michael Drozd, a Louise High graduate stationed in Iraq on his second tour of duty, is home on leave. Here he spends Thursday morning with children of First Presbyterian Pre-school, answering their questions about life as a soldier during a time of war. He talked about the condition of Iraq, its people, climate and some of the animals and insects that live there, like the camel spider. Drozd is especially enjoying time with his family, wife Christina and three children, while home on leave until next weekend when he has to return to Iraq for eight more months. He has been home since Jan. 7.

One of his first stops was Myatt Elementary when he picked up his daughter so he could spend the day with the whole family.

The last time Drozd was in town was six months ago. And the two older children were so excited to see him again. The younger one took a little longer to warm up to.

L-N Photos by Quala Matocha

"But she has become daddy's little girl," he said.

He spent Thursday morning at First Presbyterian Pre-school, talking about being a solider, his work overseas and the conditions in Iraq, plus answering questions composed by the little tots.

Drozd, who will return to Iraq Jan. 26, has been in the Army four years Jan. 23. In fact, he was to be discharged this month, but the Army extended his tour for eight more months with a projected discharge date of Dec. 24.

"Hopefully they will let me go after I get back from Iraq," he said.

This is his second tour of duty in Iraq.

The 2000 Louise High graduate enlisted in the Army in 2004 after attending Baker University in Kansas where he played football and ran track. After college, he returned home to work and then joined the military. He was stationed at Fort Hood before and inbetween his tours of duty. Shortly after leaving the second time to Iraq, his wife and children moved to El Campo. They have been married three years and were boyfriend and girlfriend since junior high.

His first tour was from January through December 2005 in Baghdad. His unit is now stationed in northern Iraq. The climate, he said, was a little undesirable, with lots of sand cold temperatures at night and daytime temperatures anywhere from 95 to 125 degrees.

Since 2005, he has seen considerable progress in efforts for peace. Part of that progress, he noted, was being able to communicate with the "locals."

While fighting continues, conditions are safer.

"We saw more action the first time. Before, you couldn't even walk down the street in Baghdad," he said.

During his first tour, his unit was responsible for coordinating any type of transportation at the Baghdad International Airport. Now that same unit, with some new soldiers, is stationed in northern Iraq and is in charge of transportation once again.

Drozd is the son of the late Michael Sr. and Nancy Drozd of Louise. He has three brothers and a sister: Dwayne Means, Donnie Means Jr., Kyle Drozd and Tessie Hudspeth.

Currently, Drozd's wife is pursuing a nursing degree. He has some plans of his own once he is discharged. "I am going back to college," he said. "I am thinking about studying criminal justice."