There is a lengthy and interesting feature article in today’s newspaper from Lititz, Pennsylvania, on Jeffery Vance (pictured), who is from the Grace Brethren Church in Lititz (Scott Distler, pastor) and his return from Iraq. Here is a short excerpt–the entire article may be read by clicking here.
Just returned from Iraq after his second deployment, U.S. Army Reserves Command Sergeant Major Jeffery Vance doesn’t mind the cool spring weather.
While he was in Iraq, temperatures got as hot as 147 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet, the hardy Lititz Army reservist insists that, “Your body acclimates to the heat.”
In fact, while he was there, the base where he was stationed in nearby Kuwait often held 5K runs for soldiers as a exercise activity and morale booster. Temperatures of a mere 95 degrees were considered downright refreshing.
Vance, 40, is home on leave with his family in Lititz until June, and may or may not be returning to Iraq. First, he will be having surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder at Fort Bragg. He was injured while unloading a supply vehicle in Iraq.
His family includes his wife Julie, who is a nurse with the National Guard, both stationed out of Fort Indiantown Gap. They have five children, including Jordan, 18; Cydney, 15; Noah, 10; Abigail, 8; and Luke, 6. All of the children, except Cydney, attend Lititz Christian School, where Jordan will be graduating in June. Cydney is a freshman at Warwick High School.