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Sunday, June 26, 2005
Beach offers teen rest from Iraq
By DEBORAH CIRCELLI | News-Journal Staff Writer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Sitting next to a pool surrounded by family and friends, Danielle Bolton is a world away from the sounds of bombs and rocket fire.
On two-week leave from Iraq, the 19-year-old military police officer for the Army National Guard took it all in Saturday as her family gathered to honor her and celebrate life with a pool party and dinner.
“We take life for granted, and Danielle actually survives every day,” said her mom, Christine Perrin, who put up “We love you” smiley face balloons outside Bolton’s uncle’s house and a banner supporting the troops.
Bolton, who grew up spending her summers in New Smyrna Beach at her mom’s house and the rest of the year in Mississippi with her dad, has been in Iraq since January. She’ll return July 2 and hopes to finish her tour by February.
She has an academic scholarship to Stetson University so she can live close to her mom.
“One thing I’ve learned from being over there is do what you can while you can. You see too many people miss out on things and don’t get to go home,” she said, referring to those who have died or been hurt.
Being away from her family has not been easy. Stationed in Kalsu, a military camp about 35 miles south of Baghdad, she provides escorts for military and civilian contractors.
She also patrols highways and canals.
On Saturday, with her 19-year-old boyfriend A.J. Schlegel, who is in the Army, at her side, she showed pictures of the Humvee she was driving when a bullet shattered the windshield.
She also told of two of her friends in a convoy who were badly injured when an anti-tank mine hidden in the road exploded. Her truck had just rolled over the same mine, but was spared.
“You can’t think about that stuff or you would go crazy. There’s constant danger over there,” said Bolton, who is in an area where she said they get “mortared and rocketed” sometimes three times a week.
Perrin says she’s very proud of her daughter, but it’s also hard knowing the danger she faces.
“She’s seen things I would never imagine seeing in my life,” Perrin said.
But Bolton also tells stories of the good things such as going into the schools in Iraq about once every two weeks to give out paper, pencils and crayons to children.
She and fellow soldiers also throw candy and give toys to kids when they drive through towns. They will wave, jump and “give you a thumbs-up,” she said.
As bad as it has been at times, Bolton said seeing the children in Iraq makes her remember why they are there.
“We don’t want them to be like the bad people,” Bolton said.
“We want them to know we are there to help them. When you go out on the road, you see the good you are doing and it makes it worth it.”
The past week she’s been enjoying the beach, visiting with family and relishing simple things, like air conditioning and eating what and when she wants.
She said while it may sound ridiculous, she even misses school. She looks forward to starting Stetson when she returns, but has not yet set a major.
“I just want to make it back first,” she said.