A few precious days, then back to the war

Break is short for couple, both sergeants.

By JOSE CARDENAS and RODNEY THRASH, Times Staff Writers
Published December 24, 2007

Sgt. Amber Scott, cuddles their 6-month-old daughter Ilyssia as her husband Sgt. Chris Scott, center, prepares to comfort their son Jake, 3, near a security check at Tampa International Airport on Sunday morning. The Scotts are returning to duty in Iraq following a short leave in Florida.
	[Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Stephen J. Coddington | Times] Sgt. Chris Scott holds their son Jake, 3, as his wife, Sgt. Amber Scott, kisses their 6-month-old daughter Ilyssia after checking-in at the Delta ticketing area at Tampa International Airport. The children stay with Amber's mother, Debra Wiley, in St. Petersburg.

TAMPA - Army Sgt. Amber Scott looked somber Sunday as the last moments with her two children approached.

The mother carried 6-month-old Ilyssia on her hip. She gave the little girl kisses as they strolled through the airport on their way to a waiting plane.

Trailing a few steps behind, Amber's husband, Army Sgt. Chris Scott, held the hand of their son, Jake.

Like any wiggly 3-year-old, Jake tried to break free from his father's grip.

"Daddy," the boy said, squirming. "Hold my bag," said the father, trying to distract him.

After a three-week break from the war in Iraq, Amber and Chris - 24 and 23, respectively - were about to board a plane to Atlanta on their way back to their posts.

The two sergeants are a "dual military couple" for whom the military does not grant special exemptions when deployment comes.

But like other military couples with children, the Scotts had to file a plan detailing how the youngsters would be cared for.

Their children stay with Amber's mother, Debra Wiley, in St. Petersburg.

The couple's break ended Sunday, two days before Christmas.

Amber and Chris met nearly five years ago during basic training in Missouri.

Both part of the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Chris was deployed less than a week before Ilyssia was born. Amber left about three months after she gave birth.

They ended up together on a military base about 35 miles south of Baghdad.

Back home during their break, the couple did the little things that families treasure.

"We got our first family pictures since Ilyssia was born," said Amber. "That's one of the main things that we were counting on doing."

Ilyssia was also dedicated at a Church of God on 66th Street by her grandfather, the Rev. Steve Wiley.

The little girl had started laughing the day after Amber left for Iraq. The young mother missed that.

But the day after the couple got home on their break, Ilyssia sat up on her own for the first time. "She did this one thing for me," Amber said.

The family spent one day at Busch Gardens. They got on a train and looked at the animals.

Amber and Chris celebrated their anniversary early. They went out to dinner and spent the night at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

Their actual anniversary was Sunday, the day they had to head out.

After clearing security Sunday, the couple and the kids disappeared into an elevator.

When they boarded the plane later, Wiley took the children to her home.

"I'm going to miss everything," Chris said.

Jose Cardenas can be reached at jcardenas@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4224.

[Last modified December 23, 2007, 20:45:49]