Cousins spend leave time in Presque Isle County

Cousins Nathan Ryan and David Quaine of Rogers City hadn?t seen each for two years until they both found themselves on leave during the Fourth of July weekend in Presque Isle County. Spc. Ryan, son of Jim and Ann Ryan, and Pfc. Quaine, son of Matt and Jackie Quaine, received two weeks of leave and spent much of the time on the shore of Grand Lake enjoying the company of family, catching up on time missed, and dining on outdoor cookouts. Both young men are a recruiter?s dream. Quaine graduated from RCHS in 2002 after starring in football, basketball and baseball and being named co-athlete of the year. Ryan graduated in 2003 and was the recipient of the Mark Smolinski Award for outstanding dedication on and off the football field.

Their cousin Spc. Steven Quaine, who also is serving in the Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, also was in the area through Saturday before heading back. He is the son of Bill and Deb Quaine. Ryan traveled from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, while Quaine made a journey half way around the planet from Iraq for his first trip back to northern Michigan since his deployment. Quaine will be going back to Iraq Tuesday and looks forward to finishing up his final four months of his current stint with military intelligence in the country.

After toiling under the hot Middle Eastern sun for most of the year, he was happy to be home where there is lots of water and green grass.

THE FIRST thing Quaine realized he missed when he got off the plane in Alpena was how green it is in Michigan. ?That?s the first thing that jumped out at me,? said Quaine, who has skin peeling from portions of his face from time spent in the sun. He said the area GI?s are most vulnerable are on the face, the back of the neck, and hands. Quaine has enjoyed getting back to a somewhat normal life and doing what he wants to do during his visit, but there are times when thoughts quickly shift to Iraq.

During the Fourth of July fireworks on Grand Lake, Quaine found himself flinching a couple of times when shells were detonated during the program.

RYAN HAS been in the service since graduating from RCHS in 2003 and has a year and 10 months left. He will be going back to Iraq for a second time in September. ?As soon I get back to Fort Campbell, we are already going to start packing everything up to go on the trains to get ready to go to port, so it?s going to be here before I know it.? While Ryan was in Iraq for only three months the first time, he?ll be there for one year during his next assignment.

?The war started when I was just a senior,? he said. ?I left for the Army in June, graduated from basic training in October, went to Fort Campbell, and I got on the first flight over to Iraq.? Ryan said his unit was preparing to leave by the time he got there.

?I STILL SAW my share of what Iraq is like,? said Ryan. ?Of course, I wasn?t there for the initial offensive push, but I still had my share of p

atrols.? There was one incident when orders were received that suspected terrorists were setting up Improvised Explosive Devices. Ryan?s unit went looking for IED?s and had the unit parked when the driver joked: ?We are probably parked right on top of it.? The next day it was found right where the vehicle had been parked hours before. Members of his unit then detonated the explosive under controlled conditions.

Ryan isn?t sure if he?ll re-enlist or enter college to possibly pursue a degree in the law field. He is up for a promotion to sergeant and will find out if he?s earned the advanced rank later this year.

Life after the military also is up in the air for Quaine. ?I?m not sure yet,? said Quaine. ?It?s still iffy. There are a couple of roads I?m going to go when I get back. Law enforcement, that?s right at the top of my list.? When he completes the final four months of his deployment, Quaine will return to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.