Walcutt chooses military over sport

As seen in ThisWeek News
Thursday, July 13, 2006

FORREST CLARKE
ThisWeek Staff Writer

By David Rea/ThisWeek Taylor Walcutt (seated, right), pictured with his stepfather Troy Ballog (standing) and stepbrother Hayden Ballog, left for Air National Guard basic training July 5 in San Antonio after graduating from Pickerington High School North and playing hockey for the past two season with the Pickerington/Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/Canal Winchester club hockey team. His mother, Tracy Ballog, has been stationed in Baghdad since September with the Ohio Army National Guard.

Pickerington resident Tracy Ballog and her family know all about the word sacrifice.

Ballog, who has been in the Ohio Army National Guard for the last 23 years and is a first sergeant, was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 10, 2005, leaving behind her family -- husband Troy and sons Taylor Walcutt, 18, and Hayden Ballog, 10.

Tracy, who is the public affairs officer and executive assistant to Brig. Gen. Robin Timmons in the 16th Engineers Brigade, has had some long days and nights being more than 6,000 miles away from her family, but she doesn't question her duty.

"We always knew after Sept. 11 that this would eventually happen," said Troy, who has been married to Tracy for 10 years. "I worry every day, but I've come to the conclusion I can't worry myself sick like the first six months. We know it's her job, but now we're on the downside."

Since her deployment, Tracy has been home once, for 15 days last May when she was able to see Taylor graduate from Pickerington High School North. She currently is at Camp Liberty in Iraq, where she expects to stay until November.

"I have to say, the distance has been difficult on the boys," Tracy wrote in an e-mail. "There are many days when an e-mail or phone call cannot replace a hug or pep talk. However, not answering my country's call is not an option."

Troy has had to make his share of sacrifices as well. Among them was a job switch from working third shift in a factory to working at a friend's home improvement business so he could be home at night.

"She is a very hands-on mom and was involved with everything from homework to hockey," he said.

Troy said that Taylor and Hayden could talk to Tracy by phone every day, but it's actually easier for the family to keep some distance between them.

"It makes time go faster if we don't talk to her every day," Troy said. "If the boys need her, they know they can call her, but if we talked to her every single day, the days would just crawl by."

"All of us in the unit have been counting the days since we first left Ohio in November," Tracy said.

"I haven't talked to her much since she's been there," Taylor said. "I just try to stay away from it and keep as busy as I can."

Last winter, Taylor concentrated on his studies and earned a 3.0 grade-point average. Playing on the right wing, he also led the Pickerington/Reynoldsburg/Pataskala/Canal Winchester club hockey team with 28 goals and had 20 assists to finish with 48 points, second on the team.

PRPC advanced to the final of the Blue Jackets Cup for the fourth consecutive season, but lost to Westerville 4-2. The Ice Prowlers also qualified to the Buckeye Cup for the second year in a row and went 1-2 there to finish 19-15-3 overall. They were second (14-7-3) behind Athens (16-6-2) during the regular season in the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League.

"He was the kind of guy that can score in buckets and in many situations," said coach Marty Laroche of Taylor, who led the league in goals in each of the last two seasons.

"It was an emotional thing for him all season."

"It was especially hard missing my son's senior year of playing hockey," Tracy said. "It was a huge sacrifice for me and Taylor."

"From the first time he picked up a stick around age 7, he was a natural on the ice," Troy said.

Hayden also plays hockey and was second in scoring (58-88-146) playing for the U-10 Columbus Capitals last year.

Taylor was extended an opportunity to play for the club team at Penn State, but he said he plans to give up hockey. Instead, he has joined the Air National Guard. He left July 5 for six weeks of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio where he will be trained as a jet-engine mechanic.

"I'll miss hockey, but there are a lot of other things to do now," Taylor said. "I've liked stuff like history, the military and planes ever since I was little."

Once his training is over, Taylor is obligated to serve five more years in the Air Force. In turn, the military will pay his tuition to attend Ohio State.

"He was not forced in this direction, and actually picked the branch he wanted to go into," said Troy, who was in the Army. "We just said it would be a good opportunity."

"I feel everyone who is physically able would benefit from giving back to their country," Tracy said. "It would go a long way in helping all of us appreciate what a great country we have."

Troy made it a point to stress the positive of what is going on in Iraq, things such as the work being done by his wife's unit. That includes building bridges and schools.

"It seems like (the media always reports) about bombs going off and things like that. They don't ever report the good side," he said.

"It's still very dangerous, but from what my wife tells me the majority of the Iraqi people do want us there helping them. Women are now getting rights and kids are able to go to school."

The family has immediate family members nearby in Troy's sister and brother-in-law, Jamie and Tara Nuzum, and parents Tom and Linda.

Tom is a former Marine.

"We're a tight-knit close family and it's been tough on us, but we've made it this far and are looking forward to having her back," Troy said.

Tracy is expected to resume her full-time job as a federal technician for the National Guard when she returns to Columbus.