firepower, battlefield mobility, survivability and versatility, with reduced logistics requirements, in his platoon was attacked by a SVBIED. With the modernized tank inoperable, and several of its occupants wounded, Raymond quickly established security, and evacuated his casualties to a higher level of care, according to the Army citation that accompanied the award. He also devised a plan that led to the successful recovery of the Stryker. “Lt. Raymond’s aggressive leadership style, commitment to duty and his respect for the people of Mosul has been a significant factor in the co-opting of the populace in the fight against insurgency,” reads the citation. “His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, this command and the United States Army.” Raymond declined to comment about the award or his time in Iraq. Trying times in Mosul for the 24-year-old lieutenant were met with trying times in the Raymond household, as each phone call put the family on edge. “I was terrified that was the phone call,” said his mother, adding, “That’s a hard way to live. Every phone call you’re terrified.” “It was tough just not knowing sometimes,” said his brother Colin Raymond, 16, a junior at Brunswick. “You hear the different stories about car bombings and Mosul, and there was that mortar attack at the exact base he was stationed at, so there was a period of time where we had no idea if he was okay.” The family was kept informed of Raymond’s status through his wife, Becca, a Greenwich Academy graduate. The couple graduated from their respective high schools in 1999. With the public sentiment turning against the war in Iraq, the constant voicing of opinions has occasionally struck a nerve with Colin, the youngest of three siblings. His sister Jennifer, 21, attends Harvard University. “Sometimes it puts me in a difficult situation, where I don’t want to talk out too aggressively to not offend anyone’s opinions, but at the same time it’s a very personal subject for me, so sometimes it’s hard for me to keep my mouth shut,” Colin explained. Raymond is the fourth member of his family to serve in the Army. His father Richard is a captain in the reserves; his grandfather Edward Ashwell Raymond retired as a full colonel and received the Legion of Merit, the Army’s highest non-combat award for meritorious service; and his great-grandfather Edward Holman Raymond served as a dentist in World War I. Few families in town have walked in their shoes. “It’s hard being a military family in Greenwich,”
said Susan Raymond. “There are few people that have, or have had, the experience of being a military family, especially at war. When he left, you feel so alone.” Brunswick and the Brunswick Parents Association (BPA) have helped lighten the Raymonds’ burden by starting Operation Bruins Care (OBC), which sends care packages to Brunswick alumni, and those under their command serving the country overseas. “It meant a tremendous amount to us as a family and Nate,” said Susan Raymond. “We will be forever grateful to Brunswick and Sue Epstein (a BPA member).” Started by Susan Raymond and Epstein last fall, OBC has sent approximately 250 boxes to four Brunswick alums Major David Haight ’90, an Army doctor; Major Kevin Cortes ’90, a Marine helicopter pilot; Army Second Lt. Caleb Weiss ’94, who fought in Afghanistan; and Raymond as well as to those men and women under their command. “It’s a fulfilling thing for the Brunswick community to be able to have such an active impact on their alums,” said Colin Raymond. “Everyone’s been so supportive. It’s really a huge testament to the Brunswick community itself. We all really appreciate it.” Operation Bruins Care sends items such as Power Bars, granola, Gatorade powder packets, playing cards, socks, and other essentials that the soldiers can carry with them while in the field. “When it started, it wasn’t really about sending things to Nate, it was about helping Nate to help his men,” said Epstein, who said that OBC is looking for new ways to support soldiers connected to the Brunswick community. Although Operation Bruins Care is not currently active with Raymond and the other Brunswick alums back home, it will resume in January when some of the soldiers are redeployed. Raymond is currently stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington and was reunited with his family last week for the first time in approximately a year. As for Colin, with two years left at Brunswick, he harbors no plans to follow his brother to West Point, but does see himself maintaining the family tradition by getting involved with his college’s ROTC program, even with the prospect of the ongoing situation in Iraq facing him. “That’s one of the good things about it,” said Colin. “The idea of selfless service.” j
H H H H H Copyright © 2005 Greenwich Citizen
Spring 2006
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