After nearly 900 combat hours over Mosul skies, the little things on the ground became the elements of Ana Martinez-Townsend’s most enduring daydreams.
On the most relaxing of evenings — if such a thing exists in the intense surroundings of a war zone — the Walla Walla native, deployed to Iraq a year ago, transported herself to the idyllic setting of her front porch of her southern home.
“Every time I had an evening off and I sat outside my (combat housing unit), I would imagine being home with my family — sitting on the porch, sipping on wine and just enjoying the evening,” she said via e-mail.
But it wasn’t long before the vision of a glass of wine evolved into a much greater plan that would give Ana and the rest of her unit not only a taste of Walla Walla’s signature juice, but a keepsake souvenir for the B Troop 1-230th Aviation Cavalry Squadron.
Armed with her computer, Ana, an officer and helicopter pilot, kept in touch with her family and friends through Facebook during her yearlong stint in Iraq. Her interaction included online exchanges with childhood friend and fellow Walla Walla High School class of 1993 graduate Chris Kontos, co-owner of Kontos Cellars.
Through this interaction, the idea came: “She wondered if there was any way to make a personalized label or anything (her unit) could have with some dates on it,” Kontos explained. … Continue Reading
