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email your ideas and comments: workings@www.jwrworkings.com
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February 2006 No. 7 Mine Employee Going to Iraq "I don't mind going, it's my duty." Tom Fields, an Electrician Trainee at No. 7 
Mine, says he's ready to serve his country for the next 18 months.
Tom, a JWR employee for nearly two years, has been a member of the
Alabama National Guard for over 10 years. He served in Kuwait
in 1996 and intends to serve a full 30 years with the National
Guard.Tom, 32, will be leaving his wife, Paula and four children behind. "My 13 year-old, Emily, is trying to put on a brave face but I know she is worried," says Tom. "My sons, T.J., 6, and Dale, 5, know I'm going away but don't realize how long 18 months will be. And of course, my four-month old, Kameron, will have to wait a few years to realize where I went."  Sergeant Tom Fields is a Crew Chief on a Black Hawk helicopter. Besides manning the M60D machine gun, Tom's other duties include monitoring the engines, hydraulics and helping guide the pilot during landing. "The pilot can't see anything behind him and needs help judging distances when we are carrying supplies or even a Hummer. These copters can carry up to 8,000 pounds." Tom says being a solider is similar to being a coal miner. "The work ethic, camaraderie of working together and how we watch out for each other is the same in the coal mine as in the service," he says. "I really enjoy working at JWR. It's close to home and I have great benefits." Before joining JWR, Tom worked in maintenance and even served as a corrections officer for two years. Tom will be traveling to Fort Hood in Texas next month for training before his deployment to Iraq. "I'm ready to go and get back," says Tom. "It's my duty to serve my country and to relieve other soldiers so they can come back home to their families." Don't forget to check out Tom's photo and other JWR Veterans at: www.jwrworkings.com/veterans.html |
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