HOUSTON -- Members of the Lone Star Battalion, a Marine Reserve unit based at Houston’s Ellington Field, began the long journey Tuesday afternoon to Afghanistan.
The battalion will number nearly 900 as they converge for two months of training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, in Oceanside north of San Diego. After that, they are scheduled for a seven-month tour of duty in the southern region of the war-torn country.
The unit is comprised mostly of reservists, “citizen-soldiers,” who normally spend one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer on reserve duty. The 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, known as the Lone Star Battalion or the 1/23 Marines, last deployed to Iraq in 2004.
As the Marines boarded charter buses to take them to Hobby Airport and flights to California, some told us that saying goodbye to their families can feel more difficult than the combat they might face.
"Now that I have a family it's different,” said Sgt. Jerry Garza, who is deploying for the first time. “I like to see my family as my strong point and coming home for them.”
His wife Reyna agreed.
"It's very tough.” she said. “I've already cried my eyes out, and I probably will cry my eyes again tonight, when he's not there anymore and the baby's asking daddy, daddy.”
Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Todd Zink said the worry is normal.
"It's human nature to have some measure of apprehension going into a combat scenario,” he said. “But our training gives you confidence to perform under fire if need be."
Southern Afghanistan is a region of that country that has claimed the most coalition casualties since 2001. And, of the nearly 7,000 total coalition fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan, 1,191 Marines and 90 Marine Reservists have been killed.
“You're very proud,” said Susan Shipp as she waited for her son to leave Ellington Field for the trip to California and then to Afghanistan. “You’re also concerned. It puts a little pit in the middle of your stomach."
So as these young husbands and fathers said their goodbyes, and loaded charter buses to take them to Hobby Airport, we asked them what they'd want the rest of us to do here at home.
"Just to support us,” said Sgt. Jeheul Enriquez. “And, you know, look out for our families."
“Just for their support and their prayers,” added his wife Lissette.
