Army specialist David Purol leaves Posen on his sister?s wedding day: ultimate destination, Iraq

There was more than one reason for the Kathy Purol family of Posen to shed a tear or two over the weekend. Saturday was a day of joy, with Purol’s daughter Penny marrying Wayne Seiler of Rogers City in an afternoon ceremony at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Posen. It also was a day of concern and sadness as her son David would only have a few hours to attend the ceremony before leaving for Saginaw. David Purol is a specialist in the Army and received orders of his 18-month deployment to Iraq in early January.

He learned the news only two days after he was fitted for a tuxedo. “He had to give up his position in the wedding party,” said Kathy.

IF IT WEREN’T for the kind gesture of close friend Corey Goupell, David would have missed everything because his bus would have left early Saturday morning. Goupell offered to drive David to Saginaw. The ceremony was at 1 p.m. and the latest David could stay was 3:30 p.m. Before Goupell offered to drive Purol, the family pictures were to be taken on the night of the rehearsal. “We tried everything we could to try and get him to stay a few extra hours. It’ll be a long year-and-a-half,” Kathy said, abruptly ending her comments after her voice broke.

“It’s very disappointing,” she said at the rehearsal dinner last Friday. Purol has been in the service for eight years, ever since answering Uncle Sam’s call right after high school.

PUROL HAS been assigned duty on border patrol in Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit and returned from Egypt last summer until the latest orders from the government were received. He serves as a machine gunner in the infantry. “It’s hard knowing that you have a brother that’s going to Iraq,” said Brenda Kortman of Petoskey, David’s older sister. “Especially at this time. When we all found out, we cried. We are just hoping he’ll be safe and watches out for himself.”

From Saginaw, David was to be shipped to Fort Shelby in Mississippi for more training and “when the government sees fit, they’ll send us over.” Is Purol concerned for himself? “Not really, I’ll just keep my head down,” he said. Purol is the second serviceman from the Army to be deployed to Iraq within the last four weeks. Josh Pszczolkowski, another eight-year-veteran, was ordered north from Kuwait a few weeks ago.

BEFORE THE organist played the “Wedding March,” the Rev. Charles Donajkowski introduced Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Seiler. But, before the priest allowed the couple to walk down the aisle, he called David from a pew, toward the altar and offered a blessing for his safety. Penny said the situation didn’t take away from her big day because she was so busy preparing for the event, but there was sadness in her heart.

“David and I are really close in age,” said Penny. “It’s kind of disappointing, because I wish I could spend more time and be more social with him, but I’m just afraid I’m going to cry.” There is an extra burden the Purols carry with them, as the family has been beset with tragedy before. Kathy lost her husband Art 20 years ago and

a 15-year-old son a year later.

“Now, on my daughter’s wedding day my son has to leave, so it’s been kind of tough,” said Kathy. The Purols will be keeping David in their thoughts and prayers in the hopes of having a safe return from this latest mission.

In the past, Brenda has sent care packages that have included jerky and editions of The Advance. “He shares them with all of the guys,” said Brenda of mailing The Advance to David when he was in Egypt. “They don’t have any idea what Posen or Rogers City is about, but everybody in his platoon reads them.”

Hopefully, all of the news of loved ones in the service will be good. Godspeed, David.

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