By Heather Graves
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – For Sgt. 1st Class William Kocken, who spent nearly a year serving overseas, being able to be with his wife and 10-month-old daughter, Josie, for her first Christmas is a dream come true.
“Making it home for the holidays this year was a big deal for me as it is my daughter’s first Christmas and I wanted to be able to share the experience with her,” Kocken said. “Becoming a father is the greatest honor of my life.”
He said there’s no better Christmas present than being with loved ones, especially after being away from them for so long.
Kocken returned home late last month after serving nearly a year in Afghanistan with the Wisconsin National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry.
“My deployment started as the QRF (quick reaction force) platoon sergeant for all of TAAC-EAST (Train Advise Assist Command) and later moved to the Battle NCO (noncommissioned officer) position in Tarin Kowt,
Afghanistan,” he said. “As the Battle NCO, I was responsible for tracking operations happening on and off base in our area of responsibility. I was responsible for ensuring we were able to respond to any threat or unit needing our support in all of TAAC-EAST.”
This isn’t Kocken’s first deployment.
He was previously deployed to Iraq on two separate occasions.
Kocken joined the National Guard in 2002 and became active guard reserve in 2009.
He currently works as the Alpha Company Readiness NCO in Waupun.
Kocken missed his family and friends while serving overseas, but this time it was different.
While deployed, Kocken’s wife, Chelsea, gave birth to their first child, daughter Josie.
Kocken was able to return home for three days to meet his little girl, but being away from her for the first several months of her life was difficult for him.
“I am looking forward to being an influence and part of my daughter Josie’s life,” he said. “I have missed nine-and-a-half months of her life and want to be here to help her grow and learn.”
This Christmas, Kocken said he is reminded of what truly matters and how his wife stepped up while he was overseas.
“I’ve always said it’s harder for those at home, and they never get the credit they deserve,” he said.
After things settle down, Kocken is looking forward to getting involved with 4th HOOAH again, an organization he helped launch in 2013.
“I look forward to focusing on some of my goals and getting involved with HOOAH again after stepping down for the deployment,” he said.
Kocken is also excited to get back into endurance sports, something he’s passionate about.
“I am currently signed up for 2×100-mile races and have begun the training for these already,” he said. “I also do a lot of speaking engagements and am excited to get back to motivating and coaching others.”