Worlds Apart

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ It's easy to toss out the cliches of combat -- freedom, heroism or simply the American Way.

Du Quoin Police Department Det. Sgt. Gerry Whitley--home on a 15-day leave from Afghanistan--is certainly well-connected to all of those ideals as he provides personal security to an American command sergeant major in Kabul.

But, how about the other things--uncertainty and separation during his unconditional commitment to the people of Du Quoin and the United States.

Whitley, 40, is home on a 15-day leave from Afghanistan. It's an Easter blessing as Whitley reminds his wife and children to break down his year-long tour into pockets of time. He says he and his family talk in terms of the first half of the tour or the second half--or time between holidays and birthdays. Somehow, it makes things easier.

Whitley served in the United States Army between 1988 and 1992 as a member of the Military Police. So, he serves in Kabul--population 4 million--probably better trained than most. He is sincere, well-organized in his work, and thinks fast on his feet. Since January 9 he and others have been providing personal security to high ranking officers. "I am part of a seven-man, three vehicle security team," he says. Typically, the armed motorcade has a lead vehicle and a chase vehicle.

His unit has seen one close call during a roadside bombing, but day-in and day-out he watches for the unknown and goes about his work trying not to hurt the pedestrians who zig zag in and out of military traffic. "The driving is crazy. Motorcycles are the big thing. You don't have to have a license to drive over there," he says. "The threats are out there all the time," he says. As he looks out from Camp Phoenix, he can see the residential compounds and enclaves and can only imagine what threats might be hiding among the more innocent Afghanis.

"Sometimes there might be eight or 10 people living in two rooms," he says.

"You can see infrastructure getting better. I passed a power plant I hadn't seen before. You can see kids coming and going from school in droves. Kids are the same everywhere, " he adds.

He says kids break into a smile when soldiers hand out candy. He remembers one little girl--about 5--lighting up. "But, if you don't have enough candy for everyone, here come the rocks they throw at you," he smiled.

"I have spoken to interpreters who tell us it is good that we are there. They like us," he said.

Whitley signed up for an extended Illinois National Guard tour for the $15,000 bonus the program provides, to help sustain his family. He knew all along there was a chance he would be called to service. "If the second half goes like the first half, I'll be alright," he says.