Reservist is proud of his service to nation in Iraq
Capt. was stationed at Camp Victory outside Baghdad
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Home had never felt so far away for Army Capt. Neil Roeder, 37, of Freehold Township. Roeder is an operations officer for the U.S. Army Reserves in the Third MedCom Unit out of Atlanta, Ga., and was deployed to Iraq in May 2006.

He returned home on Aug. 24.

"The most apprehension I felt about being deployed was about the status of my family back home," Roeder said. "I was always thinking about them and how they were doing."

Roeder and his wife, Connie, have two young children, Meghan and Kyle. Neil and Connie admit his deployment was difficult since they are a single-income family, but they made it through Neil's duty and are grateful he is back home.

"It is difficult to budget on just one income," Connie said. "Thankfully, we had wonderful support from family and friends and our church."

The Roeders recently joined the Calvary Chapel in Old Bridge and found support within their Bible group while Neil was overseas.

"They sent great care packages for him and really, they didn't even know him yet," Roeder said. "They supported us 110 percent."

As a civilian, Roeder works as a sales representative for a medical device company and has a master's degree in physiology from Northeastern University, Boston, where he is originally from. He was deployed as a Medical Service Corps Officer with the Army and spent his time advising the higher-ups how medical resources should be used to benefit the military. Roeder was stationed in Camp Victory, which is just 5 miles outside of downtown Baghdad.

"I wish the news media would try to put a more positive spin on the things they are reporting," Roeder said. "There are many regions of Iraq that are thriving, but [the media] seem to be focusing on the sectarian violence of the metropolitan areas, such as Baghdad."

Roeder described the Iraqis as a proud people. He said he had the privilege of working with many high-ranking officials and medical personnel of the Iraqi military and government.

"They were very receptive," Roeder said. "Even though they were leaning on us, you could tell they wanted to be selfsustaining."

Roeder went on to explain that the Iraqis were grateful for the healthcare system the United States military had implemented throughout the country.

Roeder joined the Reserves in 1992. He said military service runs in his family. Roeder's father served in the Army in the first Persian Gulf War (1991); his sister started her Army career in the Reserves; and his brother served in the 82nd Division in the Army and is now in the Reserves as well.

"I knew it was only a matter of time," Roeder said of his being called to duty. "I was happy to serve my country."

This deployment was the first time Neil and Connie had been separated for such a substantial amount of time.

"You just go into autopilot and do it," Connie said. "But we also took advantage of military support groups."

The Roeders got involved with the Family Readiness Group of Fort Dix in Burlington County. Through this support group the family was able to communicate via video teleconference and socialize with other military families and children.

Local businesses also supported the Roeder family. Upon Neil's deployment, Connie decided to throw a going away party catered by Pat's Market of Freehold Township.

"They picked up the tab and said they were just thankful someone like Neil was going to Iraq for our country," Connie recalled. "Really, we can't thank them enough."

Families in the community sent Neil care packages and magazines to keep him occupied during his down time in Iraq.

"Magazines, even if they are a little dated, are great to have when you have so much down time over there," Neil said. "But our troops feel supported and that means so much to someone overseas."

Roeder recalls his experience as a positive one.

"One of the big benefits of my deployment was seeing how diverse Iraq was geographically and culturally," Roeder said. "I just wish they would put their sectarian differences aside and work to a common goal of sustaining themselves."

Roeder will return to his civilian job in mid-October. He is up for rank of major in January and his military obligation is indefinite.