Goodrich-For Kristin Frankart the war with Iraq may be fought thousands of miles away but a host of daily battles are right at home.
Frankart, 25, a 1997 Goodrich High School graduate is the wife of Spc. Troy Frankart, 22, a specialist with the Ohio National Guard. They now have two children, Lexi, 16 months, and Jake, 3 months.
Troy enlisted in the Army in 1999 and was placed on active duty in December 2003 at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Ind.
The couple lived in Ohio and attended a local college, however just a few weeks after his call to active duty the Army contacted the young couple.
‘They kind of called and asked for volunteers. Of course he said ‘no,? we’d just found out I was pregnant with Jake,? said Kristin.
Due to the lack of volunteers to serve in the Mid-East, the Ohio National Guard members were randomly selected, and Troy was called up with the 216th Engineers.
‘I didn’t expect Troy to be deployed,? said Kristin. ‘That was a big surprise.?
So in February 2003, Troy left the United States for Kuwait on then to Camp Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq about 100 miles northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris River.
His call to duty was an event that evoked a host of feelings for the young family.
‘I was angry, and then sad,? Kristin said. ‘The first thing I thought about was the kids and him not being there.?
The deployment has been the couple’s first major separation.
‘He was gone two weeks to Panama for physical training, and I thought that was bad,? she said.
In June Troy was given a two-week leave to come home for the birth of Jake, a healthy 7 pound, 13 oz. boy. About a week after his birth Troy was back in Iraq with his unit.
‘I have my good days and I have bad days since Troy’s been gone,? said Kristin. ‘It’s hard, especially with the kids, especially with Lexi who often looks for her daddy. I know (Lexi) will remember him.?
Donning a ‘My daddy wears combat boots,? T-shirt Lexi, a rather inquisitive year-and a half-old, is often reminded by Kristin that ‘Daddy is working.? Looking at photo albums, videos, Web cam pictures and frequent e-mails are ways the family stays in contact.
‘Our flag is in the front yard, and she’s put it together when she sees the flag she knows Daddy’s at work, or when she sees football on TV she points and says, ‘Dad.??
‘We tell him Daddy’s working doing his job.?
It’s kind of hard to explain to her, but I have a lot of help from family and friends.? Kristin said.

Since his deployment to Iraq, Kristin recently moved back to the Goodrich area because she felt she needed family and friends? support.
‘It’s just easier with the help of family,? said Kristin.
They plan to stay in the Goodrich area and following his tour Troy will look for employment when he returns in February.
If the fears of serving in the volatile Mid east are not enough on the young family an even greater fear is that Troy’s duty won’t be over in February as scheduled but rather extended an additional 90 days.