“With the housing market the way it’s been, there was absolutely nobody who needed an architectural drafter,” she said.
A year later, however, the Combs are giving thanks this Thanksgiving Day for the sea of change in their lives and for the future ahead of them.
“After nearly a year of unemployment, my husband came to me and said, ‘I think I want to join the military,’ ” Combs said.
She smiled and put on a brave face for her husband. But “inside, I was petrified.”
Combs knows full well what the military life means to a family. Her father is a retired National Guard veteran and had tours in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I have a great deal of respect for those who choose the armed forces for a career ... but I am worried about him,” she said. “I am just so proud of him for making this tough decision and wanting to provide for his family.”
Combs said she and her husband moved into the home of her parents, Joy and Dwight Shaw, and put their house up for sale.
David enlisted in the Army in June and left Oct. 13 for basic training in Fort Jackson, S.C. In January, he’ll go to Alabama for 10 more weeks of training, then head to the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for 28 weeks.
Combs said her husband will be training to dispose of non-detonated IEDs and, later, once stateside, would like to work on VIP missions, which are team sweeps for bombs of locations where high ranking officials are expected.
She said she’s looking forward to seeing her husband in December, when he’ll be home for two weeks before heading to Alabama.
Meantime, Combs said she’s counting her blessings.
“I couldn’t ask for better parents and grandparents. They’ve been so supportive,” she said. “They write him letters and send him cards, and that means a lot to me that they do that for my husband.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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