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Mother of fallen GI watches former unit deploy

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lynn Romans’ regular appearance at sendoffs for Kentucky troops became highly personal last month when the National Guard’s 233rd Military Police Company deployed for Iraq.

Five years ago, when the unit last deployed for the war, it included her son, Staff Sgt. Darrin Potter, 24, of Louisville. He was killed Sept. 29, 2003, when the Humvee he was riding plunged into a flooded canal as the soldiers responded to a mortar attack.

That was the first Kentucky casualty of the Iraq war, and Romans recalls it being the first of some 350 for the country. Now, the number of deaths is approaching 4,000.

Despite her loss, Romans remains committed to attend every major Guard deployment ceremony. The one last month featuring her son’s old unit was particularly difficult, she said.

“There were just so many familiar faces in the room,” Romans said. “Guys who had been in the company with Darrin, going on their second or third deployments. A lot of parents who were in the company support group when Darrin was there. I really didn’t have anybody going this time, but it was hard. My heart just went out to all those parents, because there they were, watching their family members going to Iraq again, and the dangers are still very real.”

Romans’ presence at the deployment ceremonies is certainly being noticed.

“She has been at almost every funeral and deployment ceremony I can remember,” Guard spokesman David Altom said. “She has been a real voice of comfort for a great many of those families. I think she truly sees it as her role in keeping Darrin’s legacy living on.”

Romans says her biggest fear is that the recent decline in the frequency of casualties could cause some Americans to forget about the troops who still go into harm’s way. She views her presence as the ceremonies as a constant reminder.

“As long as it’s not affecting our comfort zone, it could be easy not to think about it,” she said. “But for those of us who have lost loved ones, or still have loved ones over there, we’re still at war.”

The 223rd Military Police Co. is undergoing additional training at Fort Dix, N.J., and will arrive in Iraq soon. Other Kentucky Guard units will follow.

At least 62 Kentuckians — 14 of them members of the Kentucky National Guard — have died in Iraq. Some 5,000 members of the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard have served since the beginning of the war.