Part 4 of in a series:- A soldier shipping out- A soldier in Iraq- A soldier home from war- Support groups help

Activated soldiers sacrifice their careers, personal time, and sometimes their lives for our country, but what about the families they leave behind who sacrifice a loved one?

Many parents or spouses of soldiers serving overseas join the company’s support group to help cope with the loss. The groups usually meet once or twice a month to talk about problems they are having, emotions, fears, thoughts, and the general experiences in daily life.

Every unit has a separate support group, making the groups smaller and more personal. The troops they support are in the same place doing missions together. These aspects were important to encouraging group members to share and relate to each other.

Kim Chase, an army sergeant of the national guard who served in the Persian Gulf War, belonged to the support group for the 740th national guard unit of Brookings while her husband was on active duty. She said that the support group helped when her husband was gone.

“Everyone at the meeting understands what you are going through, because they are going through it too,” she said.

Chase said that meetings also included making packages for the soldiers, planning events like fundraisers, community walks, potlucks, picnics and the homecoming. They also celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and calls from a commander.

Packages to the 740th in Iraq generally included non-perishable foods, games, cards, books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, computer games and DVDs. Chase also mentioned that the Sisseton support group sent its soldiers spaghetti noodles and sauce in a package for the troops to enjoy.

However, the 740th was close to a base with unusually good access to American products where soldiers could obtain many of the items. Some soldiers started asking the group to send toys, pencils and tablets that they could give to the Iraqi children they meet on the roads. In response, the support group started sending items that could be given to the local children, Chase said.

Another item of special request was power tools. The soldiers used the tools to build themselves shelves for their belongings.

According to Chase, support groups don’t receive any money for the packages, mailings, and other costs, so the group organizes fundraisers.

“You’ve probably seen one of our projects while driving around town. We sold the yellow ribbon magnets on cars,” Chase said.

When the 740th came home, the extra money was used to buy presents. Other groups have used the leftover funds to buy t-shirts for the company or throw reunion parties.

After the homecoming of the 740th, the support group has started meeting three times a year. They have plans for several reunions: an upcoming Christmas party and a Freedom Salute in the spring.

While the support group for the 740th has stopped meeting regularly, the 153rd support group is still in full swing.

The support group for the 153rd Engineering Battalion of Madison meets twice a month, once in Brookings and once in Madison. The members sometimes meet for coffee or at a park.

“It’s kind of hard finding things to send him, because it has to be able to survive a trip at least three weeks long in desert heat,” said April Laabs, whose brother Ben is serving with the 153rd. “That pretty much narrows down the food I can send him to Eazy Mac, Pasta Anytime, and Ramen Noodles.”

Laabs also said that her family sends pictures, snacks, small games, and his favorite – DVDs, CDs and games for his computer.

While Chase knew from experience what items would survive the trip, Laabs had to learn from trial and error.

“Once I sent Ben some homemade banana bread without really thinking about how long it would take to get there. I guess it was really moldy and gross by the time it got to him,” Laabs said.

Laabs said that her other failed attempts included oatmeal cream pies and mini powdered donuts; they were melted on arrival.

The new dormitory being constructed just north of Young Hall will soon receive a name.

When naming a new building on campus, a naming university facilities subcommittee is created. This group is chaired by Dr. Carol J. Peterson, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. The rest of the group is comprised of one career service member, three staff and one student, who are Michele Sage, Jack Getz, Stephen VanBuren and Dan Weber.

Peterson said the committee has called for suggestions of names for the new dorm. Nominations could include former teachers, administrators, government officials, or distinguished donors. Nominations are not limited to people, they could also be moments in history or events.

Peterson said 12 nominations were received from students and staff members, but she wouldn’t release the names of the nominees. Now the committee must compile a list of nominations to give to the Buildings and Grounds Committee by mid-October.

After receiving the list of nominations, the Buildings and Grounds Committee will give the list to SDSU President Peggy Gordon Miller, who will propose it to the Board of Regents. This building construction and naming process will be finished by next fall, when the new dorm will be ready for students to move in.

A possibility

One of the nominations submitted for the new dorm’s name was from Norman Gambill, head of the department of visual arts and professor in the history of art and design. Gambill nominated Ada Caldwell, one of the first professors of industrial arts.

Caldwell taught the state’s most well-known historical artist Harvey Dunn, Gambill said. Because Caldwell was his mentor, Dunn gave SDSU a few paintings in appreciation of Caldwell’s teaching. These paintings now hang in the South Dakota Art Museum.

Other students of Caldwell also went on to become well-known artists. They include Kendall Miller, who sculpted the Indian Tetonkaha standing in Sylvan’s Theatre, and Gilbert Risvold, creator of the bronze bust of Lincoln, located in Lincoln Hall.

Gambill said that Caldwell’s influence extended to the look of campus. She is credited with designing Sylvan Theatre, and promoting the Campus Grove as well as a student union, which is now Pugsley Hall. The idea of a student union came from universities in England, which she visited during her summers in Europe.

Caldwell spent her summers traveling in Europe for thirty years, Gambill said.

“Along with Professor Hansen (of Hansen Hall), Caldwell encouraged travel; they are certainly among State’s major examples of internationalization in education,” said Gambill.

During weekly meetings of her Art Club, Caldwell presented art talks about what she saw on her travels. The club was the largest and most influential on campus, Gambill said.

As a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, Caldwell was exposed to the center of modern art, Gambill said.

It is that experience that she brought to SDSU.

“She contributed more than any person in visual arts in our institutional history and helped to civilize the frontier,” said Gambill.