Far left top: Father Ron with Jeremy in Mosul. Far left bottom: Oldest son Jason with a pair of golden guns found in Iraq. Inset: Jeremy receiving an award from Capt. Hoil of the U.S. Army. Left: The Nalewak siblings, youngest to oldest, left to right, Jaron, Jonathan, Jennifer, Jeremy and Jason.

Jaron Nalewak, a senior on the Red Raider football team is a dominant linebacker in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. So is his brother Jonathan. Jonathan, however, plays for rival Lock Haven.

Naturally playing in the same conference meant games were the same day, so the parents divided up cheering duties—calling one another as events unfolded during the games.

This year with their father and two brothers working in Iraq, Jaron and Jonathan know they are with them in spirit when they take to the field.

Father Ron is working for Kellogg, Brown, and Root (KBR) at the American Air Force base at Tal Afar, a war-torn city about 30 miles west of Mosul. Mosul, home to brothers Jason ’00 and Jeremy, is Iraq’s third largest city whose Arabic name translates to “the linking point.” Apropos for a family that communicates, bonds, and relates with each other despite being separated by distance.

Jason is involved with providing high-threat personal protective services for U. S. personnel in Iraq and other dangerous areas throughout the world. Jeremy does translation work including Portuguese, the language of Brazil.

Back in Shippensburg, Jaron has a direct line to his brothers and his father in Tal Afar. For the Nalewaks currently in Iraq, it’s a welcome lifeline.

“We use chat and e-mail to communicate mostly, but I do have a VOIP line that has a local number so they can call me without any extra charges,” Jason relates. “Those phones make it so easy to stay in touch, it really takes some of the sting out of being away from family and friends.”

Every day Jason, Jeremy, and Ron deal with the reality of living in a war zone. After spending time at a remote base site in April, Jeremy related in an on-line journal posting that “in the last month I have spent more time in bunkers due to mortar attacks than I have the entire 15 months I have been in theater.”

Despite giving up many of the freedoms enjoyed back home, Jeremy said, “I have been here nearly two years now and it is more than the money that keeps me here. I honestly feel I have a positive impact on the lives of our soldiers and therefore I am becoming a part of something greater—helping the people of Iraq indirectly.”

Jason, a veteran of Iraq living, has grown familiar with his surroundings. He was a soldier there in 2003 and returned as a civilian with the knowledge of what sort of dangers he would face.

With twelve-hour days filling exhausting seven-day work weeks, Jason and Jeremy have limited time to be with their father. “Having my father in theater near where I live and work is really nice,” says Jeremy. “His location is very secure and much safer than where I am currently assigned, so that is extremely comforting.”

But when game day rolls around, the Nalewaks in Iraq keep tabs on what is happening on two gridirons half a world away. If time permits they listen to the Ship and Lock Haven games via the Internet. When that’s not possible, they check out stats and plays on the football web pages.

Football in the Nalewak family travels back to when Ron was a running back in Shamokin. An article in the Frederick Post from September 8, 1964, reporting on the Maryland Terrapin football team said, “Ron Nalewak of Shamokin, Pa. was shifted from tailback to defensive end after Labor Day drills.” A quote from head coach Tom Nugent describes Ron as “a good solid player….”

It is no surprise the children also played football. “We’ve all played football, even my sister Jennifer,” Jaron said. “Jason played at Lycoming, Jeremy played high school ball, then ran track here at Ship.”

The two youngest brothers, SU’s Jaron and Lock Haven’s Jonathon after the 2004 game at Ship and Christmas 1989.

Jennifer excelled at midget football. She was the starter at corner back for the season, while brother Jonathan was relegated to being her backup.

Jason, whose semi-pro career was cut short by injury, said, “If there is one unifying factor with our family I think all of us were known for our disregard for our own safety on the football field and the ability to deliver punishing tackles. My family has always been very focused on sports.”

Career choice is another unifying factor. Both Jaron and Jonathan are majoring in criminal justice like Jason did. And both would like careers similar to their older brothers and father. But for now, the emphasis is on football.

“Jonathan and I talk over the Internet a bit, and I call him every now and then,” Jaron said. “He sent me a message recently saying how he can’t wait to kick some Raider butt, so I can’t wait to face him and tell him to bring it on.”

Still, reality is tempered by the literal separation of the family.

“It’s real hard to gather with everyone so spread out and all over the place,” Jaron said. “We have a really close family, and when we can get together it’s really cool, especially since there’s a lot of us.”

The game of football dictates the family’s social calendar, too. Jennifer’s wedding the third weekend in September was held on an untraditional Sunday so the football-playing brothers could attend. An added benefit, of course, was attending their games on Saturday.

The weekend was made even more special with the arrival of Jeremy and Ron from Iraq.

“Sports, in general, have been a unifying factor many times over,” Jeremy said. “We are a family and nothing can take that away, but I have felt closer at times to my family through sports. Whether it has been playing sports together, or watching Jonathan, Jaron, and Jennifer in their collegiate careers, athletics has brought our family closer together when we are oceans apart.”

Bill Morgal, sports editor for the Slate and an assistant in the sports information office, will graduate in December.