The idea of military service wasn't that unusual for Hondo Tamez as a kid. He and some of his friends signed up after high school. Some went off to war in Iraq and didn't make it home – and that's what Tamez said he thinks about on Veterans Day.
"I take it as a time to remember them, although I try to live life daily in that way," he said.
The five-year Navy veteran is treasurer of the Student Veteran Association and plans to join other students in ceremonies Friday at Shafer Tower, Bracken Library and the Scramble Light to honor those who serve.
Tamez, 26, served from 2004-09, including a year on submarine duty. Being deployed meant months away from home – long enough, he said to miss important moments in the life of his family. When he came back from his second mission, his son was 7 months old and didn't recognize him.
"I missed a lot of him growing up. That was the most difficult," Tamez said. "It's really hard, but somebody has to do it."
The senior computer science major said he's encouraged that troops will be coming back from Iraq by the end of the year. They include 20 to 50 Ball State students – still enrolled, even while they are on active duty.
Tamez said he didn't know how many would be returning to school, but that they could start classes as early as next semester. Their class standing and other information won't change.
Blake Hoppes, the vice president of the Student Veteran Association, was the first person in his family to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
"My mom cried when I told her I wanted to join the Army. She was so happy," he said. "My dad was more worried."
The computer science major said he joined the Army National Guard after high school, and he hopes he can deploy after graduation.
He said he doesn't know a lot about the war in Iraq, but he has friends who have served there.
"Anyone I talk to about it, I hear we are doing good things out there," he said.
Sean Strahan, 27, served two tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2007. He described it as a culture shock — living in a desert and interacting mainly with Kurdish people in the village outside of his base.
He said the idea of sending the remaining troops home is long overdue.
"I don't really think we should be there in the first place," he said.
After being in the military for five years, the senior international business major said the transition to college life wasn't hard to make.
"You get used to it," he said. "College is hard, but it's not nearly as demanding as the military is."
Nearly 40,000 non-combat troops remain in Iraq, and President Barack Obama promises they'll be home by the end of the year. In nine years, America has lost 4,400 U.S. troops and spent more than $700 billion in the war.
Beck Hannaford, financial assistant coordinator for the university's Veterans Affairs office, said the new GI bill, which provides higher education funding for veterans, could have an impact even greater than when it was first instituted after World War II.
Hannaford said the return of troops from Iraq could be a "great moment in the history of our country."
"I have complete trust in our president, and in the generals and admirals with the Joint Chiefs of Staff," he said of the decision to bring the troops home.
For some, Veterans Day is a reminder of their own wish to serve. Sophomore Kenneth Winner, 22, joined ROTC at Ball State after being influenced by his older brother, who served in Iraq.
Winner knows that many people think it's time to leave Iraq, but he's not so sure.
"Maybe it's too soon," he said. In any case, he's ready to serve overseas somewhere.
"I'd like to," he said. "I feel like until I have, I haven't really earned my place."
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