Cathy Hammack knows all to well what it's like for Guard families with loved ones overseas.

Not only is she the West Virginia National Guard's family readiness assistance coordinator, she also has five family members currendy deployed.

Her husband, two sons, brother-inlaw and son-in-law all are serving with the state's 111th Engineer Brigade in Iraq. That's Sgt. Maj. Keith Hammack, Capt. Keith Hammack Jr., Spc. Casey Hammack, Sgt. Roy Hammack and Sgt. Casey Phalen, respectively.

"Working with family programs helps me," Cathy Hammack says. "It's the only thing that keeps me sane. I have a good support network with my real family, my military family and my work family."

Cathy says it was no accident that five in her family deployed together. Some of the family volunteered after they heard others were going.

In her job, Cathy Hammack sees Guard families with a range of issues. Her office offers help, encouragement and, when appropriate, a little tough love.

"We teach the families to be selfreliant," she says, "[to] take care of themselves."

The Hammack Five have been in Iraq since August 2007.

Cathy Hammack says she's glad they are together. "I feel saifer with them all together," she says. "They have their own family network over there."

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