Two Coloradans have created the most improbable marriage, which seems to be thriving in their…um…combative world.
Brian Neill grew up in Colorado Springs, graduating from Cheyenne Mountain High School in 1992.
Tracie Henry grew up in Aurora, graduating from Eaglecrest High School in 1995.
Both of them joined the Army, then met each other in 2003 at a Halloween party in Fort Lee, Va., after each had served a tour of duty in Iraq.
“We really clicked,” said Tracie, 30 and now Capt. Tracie Henry-Neill, in a telephone interview from Ramadi, Iraq. “Both of us kind of bounced around the country with different assignments after that until we decided to get married.”
They tied the knot at Delmonico Hall in north Denver in May 2004, then began an unpredictable odyssey of being married in the Army.
They were assigned to the 3rd Infantry in Fort Stewart, Ga., outside of Savannah, Ga. Both went to Iraq for their second deployments in 2005 and spent the year living apart in different areas. They returned stateside in January 2006 and each was promoted to captain.
Through hard work, perseverance and a lot of luck, they were able to stay together for their third deployment in Iraq, where they now are living in marital bliss, in fortified housing in Ramadi, Iraq.
“I’m a company commander in charge of maintenance, with 150 troops,” said Tracie. “We perform all the maintenance on specialty equipment and run one convoy of supplies every day into the city.”
Capt. Brian Neill, 34, is the operations officer for the battalion, which generally has four companies, responsible for all training, for the planning of all operations, then troubleshooting problems as they develop.
“Basically, I tell her what to do,” Brian said jokingly, acknowledging that their roles can be reversed when they’re home and off-duty. They have six more months in Iraq before returning to the states, saying they’d love to be sent to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs but they’d settle for Fort Stewart again because they like Savannah.
Brian is in line for promotion to major in November and hopes to become a battalion commander.
“I’m halfway through my career,” said Brian. “We bought six acres north of Fort Collins, where we hope to retire. Right now, we’d like to go back and have some kids. It would be really nice to stay stateside but I’m not going to hold my breath.”
Both said they appreciate the support the military has with Americans, and understand the lack of support the politicians have.
“Things are starting to improve here,” Tracie said. “It’s fabulous to see progress in Ramadi. The soldiers here give their heart and soul. We appreciate the support back home.”
Added Brian: “When we were on leave in September, we were walking through DIA when someone stopped and bought us dinner at Chili’s.”
Persons wishing to contact the Neills can write to them care of their names, B Co., 3rd BSB, 1BCT, 3ID, Camp Ramadi, APO AE 09396. Brian’s address differs only because he is HHC instead of B Co.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
