Mike Maune - Intern Writer

191 letters. That’s how many letters Amanda Lohrum of Greensburg has sent her husband, Elrod, a Jac-Cen-Del graduate who is stationed in Iraq as a mechanic with the 4th Infantry Division. Elrod left for Iraq 191 days ago.

But on Thursday, June 15, Elrod’s 26th birthday, the soldier received something even better than a letter, better than a phone call. Through the help of a program called Freedom Calls, a non-profit organization which provides technology to connect soldiers overseas with their families, Elrod was surprised by his wife and extended family with a phone call complete with a video connection that allowed him to see his family and his family to see him. “I had absolutely no clue,” Elrod said about the birthday surprise, “I just wanted to sleep in... but I’m so happy.”

The idea had surfaced several months ago when Elrod had tried to arrange a Freedom Call to see his wife and family. However, because the number of calls each month is limited, Elrod did not get a chance to see them. But two weeks ago John Carlisle of Freedom Calls contacted Amanda to set up a call to Elrod on his birthday. Elrod’s best friend in the States, Jeremy Bridgewater, helped set up the computer connection for the call, working late into the night for almost six hours. “We were about ready to quit [Wednesday] night, but somehow at the last minute we got it to work,” Bridgewater said.
On Elrod’s birthday, the Lohrum apartment filled with his eager friends and family waiting to see him. The video connection was set up so that Elrod’s live image was projected on the wall of the living room. Meanwhile, Elrod could see a live group shot of all who had gathered to see him. Elrod’s parents, Ronnie and Linda Lohrum, came, as did Amanda’s mother, Connie Reed. All throughout the small living room of the apartment, crowded into every corner were Elrod’s siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and friends—around 20 people in all, with more just passing through to give Elrod their best wishes. They all came to remind Elrod that he was loved and missed.

The Lohrum couple have been married for three years, but because of Elrod’s service, have only be able to be together for a total of six months. During Elrod’s earlier assignment in South Korea, Amanda came to visit and they decided to get married. They were married in the South Korean Embassy in 2003. Though Elrod’s duties to the Army keep them apart, daily letters and email have managed to keep them together. “Love can make you do anything,” Amanda said.

The Freedom Call was able to bring the family together in a deeper way. “It’s more than a phone call,” said Ronnie Lohrum, “It’s face to face. It’s wonderful.” Elrod was able to wish his father a happy Father’s Day through the call. Getting to see his wife also was important. “You look so good,” Elrod said, more than once.

Elrod also spoke about his hopes for the future, after Iraq. “I hope to get a nice little house and spend more time with [my wife] than with my roommate here.” His time serving in Iraq may be drawing to a close. “I should be home in a couple weeks.” The friends and family gathered around Elrod all smiled at that hope.

MIKE MAUNE PHOTO Technology connects Elrod Lohrum, a JCD graduate who is stationed in Iraq as a mechanic with the 4th Infantry Division, with his family in Greensburg last week. On his 26th birthday, June 15, Lohrum received the surprise of a lifetime - a long distance call and video connection to his family thanks to Freedom Calls, a non-profit organization that provides technology to connect soldiers overseas with their families.