By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
DARRINGTON — Damien VanLaningham grew up in the shadow of picturesque Whitehorse Mountain and within view of Glacier Peak.
He wrestled and played football four years for the Darrington High School Loggers. He’s been an avid outdoorsman, fishing and hunting the year-round.
At age 20, he now may be in for a different brand of hunting in a different kind of mountain environment. And it might be a lot more dangerous.
 Pvt. Damien VanLaningham |
Pvt. Damien VanLaningham is scheduled to graduate Friday from lengthy training that will make him a member of the elite band of Army Rangers.
He was the top trainee in two of the courses he took; and as much as his parents are proud of him, they are equally fearful.
Rod and Vonne VanLaningham are just two of the thousands of parents whose hearts swell nowadays with pride on one hand and beat with dread on the other as talk of using ground troops in Afghanistan persists.
The Rangers, who are experts in conducting specialized military operations, may be among the first to go.
Rod VanLaningham said he soon will be forced to talk to his son about some hard things: What does he want done if the unthinkable happens? Are his affairs in order?
"We know some things we can’t say, but we need to get down there," his father said. "Time is short."
The couple and Damien’s younger brother Dana, 18, hopped an airplane Wednesday morning for Fort Benning, Ga., where they plan to spend parts of four days with the new Ranger and attend his graduation ceremony. The trip was planned at the last minute because the VanLaninghams don’t know what will come next.
This situation is equally tough on the Ranger’s mother.
"It’s totally an emotional roller coaster," said Vonne VanLaningham. "I never cried so much in my life."
The family lives on nearly an acre of land along Highway 530. Whitehorse is right outside the kitchen window, and Glacier and Mount Higgins are visible from the deck.
It was this kind of rural environment that the VanLaninghams moved to 12 years ago to give their sons a chance to grow up in the country. The plan worked. The boys don’t wear earrings or get into trouble, their dad said. He hunted, fished, hiked, trapped and went mushroom picking with his sons throughout the year.
He works construction, and she works at a home-improvement store, both near Everett. It’s a long commute to their home just west of Darrington, but the VanLaninghams said it was worth it for what they believe they instilled in their sons.
Damien VanLaningham joined the Army in 1999. His brother also has enlisted in a delayed-entry program and will enter the service after he graduates from Darrington High School next year.
"Damien’s choice for military was his way to get through college," his father said.
He’s already registered to attend the University of Idaho, perhaps as early as next fall. He plans a double degree in wildlife and fisheries biology.
It seemed like a good deal. The military pays for the college education in exchange for more years of service, Rod VanLaningham said.
"This military thing is a good thing to give somebody some goals in life," he said.
"Damien always has been an outdoor type of person. High speed is his motto," Vonne VanLaningham added. "He respects the Rangers for what they do."
In fact, he refused to join the Army unless he was given the opportunity to become a Ranger, his father said.
The downside is the increased danger of facing combat. In a recent telephone conversation, the new Army Ranger told his dad that the whole 75th Ranger Regiment was packed and ready to go after the terrorists attacked Sept. 11. He told his parents nobody really wants to go to war, but he wouldn’t stand for being left behind if the Rangers were called to go.
"He told me, ‘If we have to go, I’m ready,’ " Rod VanLaningham said. "I gave him my blessing. I told him it’s OK to fight for our country. To fight for America."
The family hasn’t seen Damien since last December, so the trip to Fort Benning now is almost a pilgrimage.
"If he should go, we need to see him," his father said. "I hope he weathers the storm and I have both sons home soon."
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447
or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
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