Chad and Stacie Hepler in Iraq

Chad and Stacie Hepler are serving together in the U.S. Army in Iraq. Stacie is Captain Stacie L. Hepler and had submitted a story to Alle-Kiski Today magazine online about their service in Iraq. We contacted them in Iraq to learn more about their story. They granted us this exclusive interview.

Chad and Stacie have known each other since the age of 10. They were neighbors in Vandergrift and attended school together. Becoming very close friends over the years they actually never dated until Stacie went to college. That was 1998 and by 1999 they were engaged and married in 2000 during Stacie’s second year of college. Stacie said, “everyone thought we were dating while growing up, but we were just good friends. We are best friends.”

Stacie graduated from college in December of 2001 and was commissioned as an officer, went to Maryland for officer basic courses and then Fort Hood, TX. At this time Chad, who had joined the Army in January of 1999, completed his service time and went back to school. At this point, Stacie got orders to be deployed to Iraq. He finished his college work while she was in Iraq and then decided to rejoin the Army.

They began a family when Stacie returned from her first tour in Iraq. The first child, Paisle was born in October of 2004 and Charizma was born in February 2006. Soon after, both Chad and Stacie got new orders deploying them to Iraq. Stacie’s parents, George and Dee Miller of Vandergrift, now care for their two daughters. Stacie said, “Having children makes the military a whole new ball game! It is extremely hard.” She went on to say that they call their daughters when they can and her father sends a DVD of the girls every few weeks, “so we can see what they are doing and they can show us stuff that they have learned to do.”

Stacie is in Balad, Iraq assigned to the 4th Corps Materiel Management Center. She is a “loggy”, a specialist in logistics and Officer in Charge with seven soldiers working directly under her. She deals with procurement, maintenance and transportation of military materiel, facilities and personnel.

Chad is serving about a ten minute flight away from Stacie in Baqubah, Iraq. He is a Corporal assigned to the Bravo Company, 1-12 Calvary, 1st Calvary Division. Located in a combat zone, his Company goes out on patrol missions and raids that are classified.

Chad and Stacie Hepler with their daughters

Being near each other (about an hour drive) they talk on the phone and e-mail each other. Chad’s unit comes to Stacie’s area about every month and they get to visit. Stacie is also in a combat zone, but Chad’s area is much more dangerous. Stacie says that she does worry about Chad and if she doesn’t hear from him for a day she worries, but two or three days really “make me crazy sometimes!”

Their life in Iraq is very different. Stacie works 8 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m., spends time doing PT and in her spare time calls the girls, read or workout. Chad is in the infantry in a combat zone. There is no schedule as he has missions, sometimes two day to six day missions. When he returns to “back behind the wire” he likewise calls the girls, calls Stacie, and keeps up with PT.

What’s Iraq like? Stacie said it is different, “everything is different! Some of the towns love that we are here, some hate that we are here . . . depends on where you are and who you talk to.” “The weather is pretty nice right now,” she continued, “Rainey season is almost over. The summer (March-October) is the worst . . . it is boiling most of the time!” They both agree on one thing: being a way from their girls is the worst part of being in Iraq.

They both joined the military to pay for their education. Stacie was in the ROTC at Gannon University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Chad joined the military and after his first term took advantage of the GI Bill to attend Central Texas College where he received a certification degree in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning). Stacie said they decided to stay in the military because they enjoy their work and what they do. Since having the children, though, it has changed their thoughts about how long they may stay in.

Chad and Stacie grew up in Vandergrift and went to Kiski schools. They are expecting to return home in August of this year and back to their base in Fort Hood, Texas. Stacie’s parents are George and Dee Miller of Vandergrift. She has two sisters, Tammy Hepler and Kristin Miller and one brother, Steve Miller. Chad’s mother is Nancy Hepler of Vandergrift. His father Edward died when he was a freshman in high school. Chad has three sisters, Michelle Myers, Nicole Blystone, and Ashley Hepler and one brother, Mike Hepler. Their two daughters are Paisle Jazmyn Hepler and Charizma Jordyn Hepler.

You can e-mail Stacie at: stacie.hepler@us.army.mil

She can forward e-mails to Chad.