OTTUMWA — Being able to talk to a loved one in the Middle East doesn’t make their absence easy — but it can make it more bearable.

“It sounds cheesy but it’s kind of nice to hear his voice in the house,” said Jacque Bookin-Nosbisch of Ottumwa.

Her husband, Sam Nosbisch, is one of the non-commissioned officers assigned to the 833rd Engineer Battalion currently serving in Iraq.

Bookin-Nosbisch checked her computer to see if she could talk to her husband, but he still wasn’t available. It could be later this afternoon, or later tonight when they finally connect. But it’s worth the wait, she said. She has a Web camera so he sees them, and speaker so not only do they see him, they hear him, too.

“I remember last time. The Internet was a great tool to stay connected,” she said, “especially with the Webcam. We could see him and he could see the kids. This time, we learned that we can make long distance calls from PC to PC and there is no charge. It’s great; they (the little ones) don’t even have to type.”

“Communications is absolutely key for soldiers and families to try to maintain as normal a relationship as possible despite the circumstances,” said Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard.

At one time, that “communication” consisted solely of letters, not the easiest way to communicate with someone who could be anywhere in a given country. Around the time of the conflict in Vietnam, soldiers were able to make a phone call occasionally.

“Now, today, we’re fortunate to have telephone connectivity and e-mail,” Hapgood said.

State Rep. John Whitaker, D-Hillsboro, said he prefers phone calls to e-mail from his son, Gabe, who is serving with the 833rd. The family receives a mix of both.

“He calls us fairly often and it’s good to hear his voice,” Whitaker said. “He wants to know what’s going on [at] the farm, and what’s going on in politics.”

Others prefer computer communication.

But it took a while to get Internet service this time: One National Guard family member told the Courier she was frustrated about her inability to communicate with her loved one. She said she didn’t want to cause trouble for her soldier by using their names in the newspaper, but said it was especially frustrating that higher-ranking officers seemed to be able to chat with their own families.

“There’s only a certain, finite amount of technology available in Iraq,” Hapgood said.

With more than 100,000 troops, it can be tough setting up Internet access as quickly as families would like, he added.

For those who cannot get private Internet access, there are still some options for face-to-face contact using the state’s Iowa Communication Network.