From the May 10, 2010 edition of The Siskiyou.

By Jeremy McDonald

It’s a cool Friday evening and the wind is breezing throughout the stadium, while a man stands ready.  On his right are the coaches, the players of the football team and the crowd in the stand.  On his left, the soon-to-be senior class stands in a line facing him.  He’s standing between the seniors and the rest of the squad, wearing his No. 81 white football jersey. blue jeans pants, and in his hands, the American flag folded up in a triangle.

This time a year ago, Specialist E-4 William Amaya, 22, of the Oregon Army National guard, was serving a year of duty in the Middle East.

“I spent two weeks in Kuwait and a little more than nine months in Iraq, ” Said Amaya.

Amaya signed up for the Army National Guard in December of 2004 mainly because of the educational benefits and because his father was deployed to Iraq.

During the summer of 2005, Amaya was subjected to some basic training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

“It was very challenging,” he said, “a lot of mental and physical work.”

Amaya mention that during this basic training, they had to do weapons qualifications, push-ups, sit-ups and a lot of marching.

Amaya, a Health and Physical education major, attended Southern Oregon University for the two years prior to his deployment; juggling school, football, and being part of the National Guard.

“It was difficult,” Amaya said, “it caused some scheduling conflicts with school and the National Guard, but it helps to have discipline to schedule around both.”

SOU’s coaches were also supportive of Amaya’s endeavors.

“They were always very supportive and we’re willing to help me do both football and the National Guard,” Amaya said.

“I was concerned of his well being since there was a good chance of him not coming back,” said SOU head football coach Steve Helminiak, “Second, I was humbled by his sacrifice in the midst of his college career by leaving to fight for his country and take on the responsibility of that.”

During the 2009-2010 football season, the football team placed Amaya’s jersey and helmet inside of his locker in honor of him.

“I wanted our guys to realize that he was still part of the team and that the sacrifice that they do for football, Will was doing for his country,” said Helminiak, “I wanted the guys to remember when times got tough, they can look in the locker and realize the tough times that one of their teammates is facing.”

Amaya was notified in 2008 that he would be deployed to the Middle East the following year.  He thought it would be a good opportunity for him in a few aspects, but he wasn’t sure how he felt putting school on hold.

“It seem like something you saw on the news,” Amaya said about his perceptions prior going to the Middle East.

Amaya was fortunate to fly over there with his father on what he recalls as an extremely long trip and when they landed how overwhelmingly hot it was.

He stayed at Kuwait for two weeks before heading to Camp Victory, or Victory-Based Compund, that is located in the heart of Baghdad, Iraq.

During the summer the daytime heat reached as high as 140 degrees Amaya recalled.

“It’s surprising how cold it it got at night,” said Amaya.  “Especially during the winter time.”

Throughot his tour, Amaya said that he had the feeling that wanted to get it done and over with and get home.

To pass time, he played X-Box, Risk, and played lacrosse and football as well as frequent workouts.

Amaya recalled what the end of the tour felt like.

“Just kinda weird to give up on the job,” Amaya said.  Adding, “we were training our replacements that were going to take our place.”

He departed from Iraq, headed to Kuwait, then over to Germany, crossing the Atlantic landing in Maine and arrived in Fort Lewis, Washington on April 11, 2011.

There was a welcome ceremony when his unit returned.  The hour-long service recognized the soldiers whom served with speeches by politician and with families sitting in the stands watching.

“It was definitely a emotional moment,” Amaya said about the whole situation.

After being the Middle East, Amaya’s impression changed.

“It’s a lot more modern than I thought it was going to be.”

He went on to describe his experience over in the Middle East.

“[It] made me more mature and made me appreciate our country a bit more and open my eyes to how much better our country is.”

Now back in the United States and able to suit up for the Raiders next season, Amaya is glad to be back the sport he loves the most.

“For me, the hard part of deployment was the thought of football and playing it again,” he said, ” I brought two flags with me…I folded them up and put them in my bag for missions…I kept one for me, and gave the other to the football team.”