Service to Country, Loyalty to Alma Mater
By Karen Hunt
KC Anderson’s ’07 and Jamie (Ford) Anderson’s ‘09 paths crossed multiple times while they both were attending University of Idaho. But they were an unlikely couple. KC arrived to every game, his body painted in the signature black and gold colors that mark a diehard University of Idaho Vandal fan. Jamie, then a member of the Vandal Cheer Squad, remembers seeing KC in the front row at every game.
While they seemingly had little in common, they were introduced on neutral turf – a mutual friend’s home where both had been invited for a barbecue – and something connected the cheerleader and the fan; a relationship bloomed and they were married in 2009, when Jamie was student teaching.
Shortly after they married, KC joined the army and moved to Georgia for training. Jamie finished up her student teaching and then moved to Georgia to be with KC. From Georgia, the couple moved to South Carolina and then were stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, where KC received orders to deploy to Iraq.
“You just pray they come home in a year, and not 18 months,” says Jamie.
Dealing with the possibility of KC not returning home was hard for Jamie, but since she grew up as an Army brat, she felt prepared for the worst.
The call to ship out was sobering for the young couple. The army gave them a packet that details how to handle finances while being deployed. The packet also provided plans for arranging a funeral, in case the worst should happen.
KC was a part of Task Force ODIN, a unit that specialized in military intelligence and aviation. Their mission in Iraq was to fly unmanned vehicles that looked for improvised explosive devices – or IEDs.
Even though KC was thousands of miles away, he remained a diehard Vandal fan, often staying up for 24 hours just to watch a Vandal football game. KC worked hard, seven days a week, 13 hours each day, but he never missed a Vandal football game. Besides coming home, the games were the thing he looked forward to.
Being a Vandal fan also got attention from his colonel. KC proudly displayed an “Akey’s Army” poster in his Vandal-themed office in Iraq.
When his colonel walked in, he said to KC, “I hate your office’.” KC quickly learned that the colonel was a Bronco.
With KC in Iraq, Jamie stayed in Texas where she is pursued her master’s in business administration. She will graduate from Texas A&M in May 2012.
“It’s really hard finding a job as a military wife,” says Jamie. “You never know when you’re going to move, so I decided to go back to school.”
While being a military wife has historically had its challenges, Jamie says she feels fortunate to be military wife during the 21st century.
“It was so hard to be apart for a year,” says Jamie. “But I feel fortunate because we have more of a connection than past families had with their soldiers. Today, we have email and Skype, but in past wars, letters were the only form of communication.”
While KC and Jamie have been married for two-and-half years, they’ve actually only spent eight months together. KC’s return from deployment has given them the chance to start all over again.
KC isn’t the only person in Jamie’s life who is a die-hard Vandal fan and has served in the Army. Jamie’s grandfather, Bud Ford, also served his country and is actively involved in the Vandal Booster Club. In fact, Bud and his wife, June, provided leading gifts that helped renovate the Kibbie Dome and kick off the 2011 Vandal football season. The couple was present for the dedication of the new Bud and June Ford Club Room in the much improved dome.
Jamie’s dad, Charles Ford, went through the ROTC program at the University of Idaho. He served 25 years in the army and retired a lieutenant colonel.
Jamie is proud of KC and her family’s legacy of leading in military service.
“It makes me appreciate all veterans and everyone who goes through ROTC at the University,” says Jamie.