 KENT KRIEGHSAUSER/The Register-MailDavid R. Hare and wife Christina hold their son, Andrew James, during a visit to Hare's father's home in Galesburg. Hare is back in the United States for a three-week leave from the Army. He has been stationed in Baghdad, and more recently, in Germany. The gift of family Soldier brings new wife, son home for holidays. Sunday, December 24, 2006 An Army soldier brought "the most wonderful gifts ever" to his Galesburg family this Christmas - a short visit with his wife and new baby, additions the Hare family had not even met.Army Specialist David R. Hare, 21, spent 11 months in Baghdad, stationed at the U.S. Army's Camp Victory there. He now is living at a base in Heidelberg, Germany, with his wife, Christina, and baby, Andrew James, born July 19. Hare brought his family here this week for just a few days so his parents, grandparents and cousins could meet his wife and new son, whom they'd never talked with or seen in person. And after just one week in Galesburg, the threesome is "doing the family shuffle," as they say. The family already has parted again, with Hare, his wife and baby off Thursday for a week in Pascagoula, Miss., to see Christina's family, then for a week to Port Allen, La., to see Hare's mom, Paulette Welty, and stepdad, Chris Welty. After Hare's three-week whirlwind tour, they'll fly back to Germany. Hare doesn't yet know when or where he'll be deployed again.
They talked earlier this week about Hare and his role in the war.
'He's a hero to us' "He's kind of humble," said Hare's father, also named David Hare. "I told him, 'You're in Baghdad. They can drop a bomb anytime on you.' " "He's a hero to us anyway," said Tana, his stepmother. Hare, looking weary and with a slight smile, shook his head. He's just doing his job, he said. Mortar attacks in Baghdad are "pretty frequent," Hare said. "The closest I've seen was about a half mile from where we lived. ... You're just focused on what you're doing, focused on your job. You don't think about a lot of other things." Hare works on Army trucks, cargo loaders, Humvees, fork lifts and other vehicles. In Bagdad he also was responsible for about $20,000 worth of mechanics' tools. The 2004 Knoxville High School grad enlisted when he was 17. Before he went active he was a reservist with the 724th Transportation Company based in Bartonville. Now 21, he has re-enlisted for six more years. He hopes to start taking Internet college courses to work toward a bachelor's degree in business management. His dream is to open a restaurant and bar, probably in Kentucky, after his tour ends. "I'm serving my country," he said. "I like the good benefits. It costs so much to live outside the military, in civilian life. I enjoy serving my country. It's been good." But Hare believes the United States should withdraw troops now and let Iraq rebuild and govern its own country. "I do believe we should not be there. I don't see any change in things there," he said. "I think we're wasting our time and we're wasting the taxpayers' dollars being over there. I hope one day we will get out of there. They need to build their own country back." His father also takes a stand against the violence. "I almost feel George Bush has cost as many lives as Saddam has," said his father, David A. Hare. "Who are we to say they should be a democracy? It's hard because I support our troops over there. Totally. But, I don't believe in this war." "We don't watch the news," said Tana. "At first we felt like we should. Then I started literally getting sick to my stomach. "We couldn't help it: every time we'd see something about soldiers dying, we'd think, 'Is (David) one of them?' "
'Wonderful gifts' Although Hare's wife had not met her husband's parents she felt a part of their family immediately. From Germany, she has called the Hares here every week since before baby Andrew was born to let them know how her husband was doing. Then, after the baby arrived, she continued the updates and talked about him. "We felt we knew her because of those calls," said Tana. "Over the phone we bonded with her. She's a great daughter-in-law." Hare's family feels fortunate to have had just a few days with him. "He brought the most wonderful Christmas gifts ever this year," said Tana. "We just wish everyone could have the same happy homecoming at Christmas that we've had."
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