Holy Shit, Brad!

Family reunion the greatest gift for soldier

By Mitra Malek, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Barmore returned to his hometown Monday after a six-month tour of duty in Baghdad, arriving at Palm Beach International Airport five minutes behind schedule. His mother, Dawn, fidgeted with the green, curling ribbon hanging from a "Welcome Back!" balloon as she waited. Also eager for a hug: dad, sister, nephew, aunt and a half-dozen family friends.

Each got one shortly after Barmore, 36, entered the building. Well-wishers applauded the man in sand-colored fatigues.

"The temperature is the same as in Baghdad," Barmore said. "Everything else is wonderfully different."

Barmore will be spending the next two weeks at his parents' home in Wellington, along with his wife, two sons and newborn daughter. They arrived later Monday, after heavy snow in the Northeast slowed the drive from Utica, N.Y., where his wife's family lives.

"She's sleeping and beautiful," he said after getting the first glimpse of his daughter.

Barmore's brother will arrive Thursday from Gainesville. Once everyone is together, his mother will lay out the holiday buffet, turn on the Christmas lights and offer presents to the children.

"The stockings are hung by the chimney with care," Dawn Barmore said. Five to be exact - one each for her son, his wife and their three children.

As luck would have it, Barmore's wife was due to give birth three months after he headed to Iraq with the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion. He knew it would be a girl, and that she'd probably be named Ashley because his wife, Jan, has always been fond of the name.

Ashley was due Nov. 14, but she didn't arrive that day. So Brad called home every day after that; usually the couple e-mails or sends instant messages. On the morning of Nov. 21, he got an e-mail from his wife's sister announcing the birth of a black-haired, blue-eyed girl.

Missing the birth wasn't terrible, said Barmore, who helped deliver his 21/2-year-old son, Gregory.

Barmore, a graduate of Forest Hill High School and the University of Florida, specializes in Korean. He said he's mainly monitoring computer equipment during his first tour of duty since joining the military in 2003. It's a departure from his expertise, but an area where he was needed, he said.

He'll head back again for at least six more months. Meanwhile, he'll enjoy Chinese food, Russo's original submarines and a concentrated dose of family life.

Copyright © 2007, The Palm Beach Post.