Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Master Sgt. Kim Geffre recently returned to Presque Isle to reunited with her children, after serving four and a half months in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Air Force.
“Kim left two weeks before Mother’s Day and returned Sept. 23,” said Sandy Drake, Geffre’s mother.
Drake said her daughter made arrangements for her to watch the children in Geffre’s absence, since her daughter’s husband, Mark Geffre, who is also a Master Sgt., was also away, serving in Honduras.
“My granddaughter, Jamie, is 10; my grandson, Garrett, is 6. They didn’t know until the last minute she was coming home. It was hard to keep the surprise but family didn’t want them to know, in case plans got changed,” said Drake.
Drake was a bit disappointed when she arrived at the airport to greet her daughter, seeing no other military personnel there to welcome Geffre home.
“There were no military personnel on the premises when she arrived. She flew into Presque Isle from Detroit. She arrived in the states on Sept. 20 and left Sept. 24, headed to Rapid City, S.D. Her husband arrived that Tuesday in Rapid City, traveling from Honduras for a 16-day visit,” said Drake.
Drake said she enjoyed the time spent with her grandchildren.
“We kept the kids while Kim was away. They were home-schooled to keep them up to speed with their classes,” said Drake.
Geffre wanted to get back to her children as quickly as possible, not even bothering to put on civilian attire.
“Kim didn’t even change from her uniform. She arrived in her fatigues – she wanted to see the kids so much, she didn’t want to waste time changing. It was a long four and a half months for her,” explained Drake, adding Geffre was anxious to see her kids after serving nearly half a year in Baghdad.
Geffre’s duties included handling a variety of work in the legal department of her branch of the military, where she served as a paralegal. She wasn’t the only one in her family who’s served overseas, according to Drake.
“Her brother, Mark Rediker, spent 13 months in Iraq with the National Guard,” Drake said.
Geffre, who has served 18 and a half years in the military, plans to retire in about a year and a half.
“Her husband is staying in until she gets out. They’ll have about the same time in,” said Drake.
Geffre is currently stationed at Sitting Bull, S.D.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Drake
KIM GEFFRE surprised her children Garrett and Jamie Geffre, when she returned home in September after serving nearly five months in Iraq as a Master Sgt. in the Air Force.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Drake
MASTER SGTS. Kim and Mark Geffre call South Dakota home but in the past year have found themselves serving beyond the U.S. border, with Kim – formerly from the Presque Isle area – recently returning from a nearly five-month tour in Iraq, while husband Mark served in Honduras.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Drake
WELCOME HOME – Master Sgt. Kim Geffre was welcomed home in September by members of her immediate family. Pictured, clockwise, from top: Mark Rediker, her brother; Geffre; Marilyn Rediker, Mark’s wife; and Sandy Drake, Geffre’s mother.
