CARBONDALE - The first separation was tough, but the second time around Spc. Buddy Krummrich expects it to be even harder.

Krummrich leaves for Iraq next month for his second tour. After he was discharged from service after the first tour, he re-enlisted in September 2004, knowing full well he would be back in the sand.

Partly, he said, it was to provide for his family.

But there was more to it than just that.

"The first time I was there, I got all kinds of letters from kids thanking me," he said. "It made me kind of proud."

Krummrich's family held an early Thanksgiving and Christmas combination dinner so Buddy could enjoy the holiday with his family before he left.

It may be the last holiday he shares with his maternal grandmother, Jo Abbott, his aunt said. She has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. She was in the hospital the day the family had set aside for the feast, so Buddy brought her a plate of food and stayed some time with her at the hospital that day.

He said leaving his family is the worst part about going back to Iraq, not camel spiders, not wind or sand or sun. Krummrich has settled into life as a husband to wife, April, and daddy to 2-year-old daughter, Bianca. The first time he left, April was four months pregnant.

"I've lived with them for a year - it'll be harder to let them go," he said. "I missed the first six months of Bianca's life."

April agreed that this separation will be harder because this time she is accustomed to having her husband around - which was a new experience before because the marriage was so new.

"It sure keeps that newlywed feeling alive," she said.

She advised other young wives to "just be strong." A Springfield resident, she'll move to Southern Illinois while her husband is gone. She said she knows Buddy will feel better knowing she has plenty of family to lean on if she needs help. She plans to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale to study history.

Krummrich said he isn't worried about anything except his family. He expects living conditions in Iraq to be better this time around, but added that "there will still be surprises."

Robin Krummrich, Buddy's mother, said having April and Bianca around will help while her son is overseas. In spite of Buddy's confidence, she is already dreading watching the news.

"I'm a lot of dang proud, though," she said.

Krummrich will be stationed at Fort Riley until he leaves for Iraq.

andrea.hahn@thesouthern.com

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