Trooper jumps in, 'feels he belongs' in 82nd Airborne

By PAUL LIVINGSTONE, News Assistant

Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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MAINERS AT WAR A daily profile of men and women serving in the armed services as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom JASON W. SWIGER Age: 20 Hometown: South Portland Rank/branch/unit: Specialist, U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Stationed: Fort Bragg, N.C. Military occupation: Cavalry scout Family: Single; son of Valorie Swiger, brother of Rebecka, Andie-Lynne, C. Michael and Charlie of South Portland; brother of Angelica and uncle to Madison Cole of Buxton; grandson of Elizabeth Swiger of South Portland Education: Graduated from South Portland High School in 2000 We welcome your submissions for Mainers At War. E-mail information to mainersatwar@pressherald.com, or call 1-800-442-6036, ext. 6300. OUR NATION AT WAR Our special section looks at how the war with Iraq is affecting Maine. You can find: News coverage about how Maine reacts Event listings for rallies Online discussions of issues surrounding the war To top of story

Although Operation Iraqi Freedom was his first deployment to foreign soil, Jason Swiger has been trained to jump into any situation. As a scout for the 82nd Airborne, Swiger is at home in the air, whether he's dropping into a battle zone in Iraq or on a routine training mission at his home base in Fort Bragg, N.C.

The decision to devote his career to the military came easily for Swiger, says his mother, Valorie Swiger, and the reasons run deeper than the rush that comes with skydiving in close formation.

"Jason made the 82nd Airborne number 1 on his list of things to do," she said.

He takes inspiration from his uncle, who is retired from the 82nd after 23 years in the service.

"He's found the place in his life where he feels he belongs," his mother said. "He enjoys jumping for a living, and to use his words, 'I do it for God and country.' "

Despite his clear commitment, Swiger's absence is difficult for his mother, who last received a letter from her son April 28. He dated the letter April 5.

"Pretty much what he couldn't tell me has already happened," she said. "Jason's company wasn't privy to computers as some were, so I had to rely on TV and an angel from Fort Bragg, Julie Mitchell, who has kept me informed on messages received at Bragg."

One such message, sent on March 31 by the unit's captain, said Swiger's men had been constantly working to secure perimeters and support other Army groups, and on occasion escort the commanding general. She last spoke to him on Feb. 14, when he called to wish her a happy Valentine's Day and tell her he was leaving the next day.

"I wasn't at home when he called to say 'later,' " Valorie Swiger said. "Those are our words, we never say 'goodbye.' I've kept that message and play it to hear his voice."

Swiger is gifted at both writing and drawing, she says. He's fond of going to the movies, working out and taking care of his new car.

"As a mother, I'm scared and frightened to know at any time he is in harm's way. I always told my children my heart is equally divided into six parts and if one is missing, it's not whole. So as of now it skips a beat until his safe return."

But she says she's just as proud, as an American and a believer in freedom, to say she's a parent of an 82nd Airborne trooper.

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