Verchio proudly serves his country in Iraq and Kuwait

Family Time — Tony Verchio, left, along with his mother, Jeri, and father, Mike, attended the National Guard Military Ball honoring those who serve. Verchio has proudly served 24 years in the army. He is currently stationed in Kuwait with the 139th Unit out of Brookings. [Submitted Photo]

By Carrie Moore

From a young age, Tony Verchio always knew he wanted to serve in the Army. At age 17, when his father, District 30 Rep. Mike Verchio, told his son to get a summer job, Verchio enlisted in the National Guard. Since then, he has been with the Army for 24 years.
After his National Guard training, Verchio was on active duty for four years, where he fought in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. His Guard experience has taken him all over the world, including Jordan and other countries in the Middle East and other areas in the United States.
“It’s always interesting to learn about other culture,” Verchio said. “I’ve enjoyed learning the Arabic cultures.”
When Verchio was deployed during Desert Storm, his father started to worry.
“I would worry about his well being,” Mike Verchio said. “I started to lose sleep and get depression. I couldn’t let go of the ‘what ifs.’”
However, each deployment has gotten easier, although the worry never fully goes away.
“It’s always hard when they leave home, but when combined with a career in the armed forces it adds an element of worry,” Mike said. “We knew he was trained to do his job, but always had that little bit of dread in the back of our minds.”
Verchio, who is a Lieutenant Colonel with the 139th unit stationed in Brookings, recently returned from deployment to Iraq. After a few weeks home with his family, Verchio will once again be deployed, this time to Kuwait.
“I was initially very excited about the mission in Iraq,” Verchio said.
In fact Verchio, who is trained in special ops, threw his name into the deployment group.
“I watched friends being deployed, so I knew I had to do it,” he said. “I wanted to do my part for the country. So I took advantage of the opportunity.”
A typical day for Verchio and his unit was working 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, before going back to camp to rest or email home. Every two weeks soldiers would get the chance to phone home and talk to love ones.
“It was very rewarding working in Iraq,” Verchio said. “Deployment was good and everyone did a good, solid job.”
“In large, people were concerned about safety,” Verchio added. “When we arrived, the country was peaceful and calm. What makes the news is the horror stories and killings. It’s not so much like that.”
While in Kuwait, Verchio and his unit will have shorter days and more chances to explore the town. Kuwait also has a movie theatre, which allows troops to catch a flick once in a while.
“The operation tempo is slower there,” Verchio said. “Kuwait also has nicer amenities there than anywhere else. And it’s also safer, too. There’s no indirect fire.”
Verchio will also get more chances to talk to his loved ones.
“I do miss not being with my family,” Verchio said. “We do everything together, so it’s hard not being able to do that.”
But in large, Verchio’s family does fine with his deployment. This year, Verchio’s wife, Karey, and his daughters, Jessica and Kaitlin, held back Christmas until he arrived home.
“It was touching that they waited for me to be home,” he said. “It was special that I did not miss that celebration.”
Verchio’s deployment has caused him to miss birthdays, some holidays and graduations. But his family understands the importance of his service.
“We email him a lot, write letters, send packages and spend a lot of time with the girls,” Mike said. “We do family dinners, school activities and plow their driveway — the things he would normally be there to do.”
Verchio will be in Kuwait through May, where he then hopes to be home for good.
“I think every parent is very proud when their son or daughter serves our country,” Mike Verchio said. “We are extremely proud of him.”