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Five local reservists summoned to duty
By Derek Hodges
Five Jackson County men have received word that they will soon be on the front lines of the war on terror, and they said they are "ready to go."
Sgt. Joseph Dwan of Tuckasegee, Spc. Joseph Ensley of Sylva, Pfc. Kevin Jackson of Cherokee, Pfc. Shane Jones of Tuckasegee and Spc. David Roberts of Sylva are all members of the Alpha Company of the 391st Engineering Battalion, based in Asheville.
The reserve detachment received their orders in January to begin preparations for deployment. They will spend several days in training and getting equipment, then leave next week for Fort Bragg and more extensive training, said Phyllis Bolick, Ensley's mother.
The soldiers said they aren't sure where they might be sent, they just know it will be overseas. The unit was called up previously with orders to foreign soil. That time, though, they were kept stateside.
This time looks to be different. While the men said nothing was certain yet, there are a lot of rumors about whether they will be serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"I'm ready to go; this is part of the job," Jackson said.
Ensley agreed, but said he was a little apprehensive about what the future may hold for the group.
"I'm nervous about not knowing what situation we're heading into and leaving my family," he said. "I'm excited about going with guys from home, though. I'm just ready to go and get back home."
"We need to be a little nervous. That's good sometimes," Jackson said.
The group will have body armor, the lack of which has hampered troops currently in the war zones.
"We're getting the new good stuff," Dwan said.
In addition to the armor, the men will have extensive training on how to keep themselves safe.
"I'm not afraid," Roberts said, "We've been trained really well."
As brave as the men sound, some family members are having a little trouble with their call to arms.
"I'm very apprehensive," said Bolick, who took last Thursday and Friday off work to spend with her son.
"I just hope everything goes well. I hope that their mission is successful, whatever it might be," she said.
Several of the men said their families were also nervous about seeing them go.
"My wife is supportive, but my children don't understand," said Dwan. "They want to know, 'Why does daddy have to go away for one and a half or two years?'
"They watch the war movies and all, you know, somehow they've become convinced I'm going to die. What do I tell them then? I just say that Roberts is going to be there, he'll take care of me. My daughter says her prayers every night," Dwan said.
All the men asked for continued support and prayers from those who they'll be leaving back home.
"Keep us in your prayers and send us plenty of good stuff," said Ensley.
Bolick and several of the other family members who will remain stateside are part of the Family Readiness Group that will be supporting the company when they leave.
In addition to cards and letters of support, the family group has put together a list of items that people who want to help the soldiers can send. On that list:
Toiletries – Baby wipes (the most needed item), sunscreen, shaving cream, razors, foot powder, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, eye drops, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and lip balm.
Snacks – Presweetened Kool-Aid, powdered Gatorade, Tang, Crystal Light lemonade, tea bags, instant coffee, breakfast bars, granola bars, beef jerky, Slim Jims, chips, Moon Pies, trail mix, Rice Krispies treats, nuts, spices, Tabasco sauce and instant soup mix.
Morale/recreation-related items – disposable cameras, international phone cards, small travel games, paperback books, CDs, portable CD players (for injured soldiers), DVDs, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, baseball gloves, baseball bats, frisbees and volleyball equipment.
Miscellaneous items – All sizes of batteries, two-way radios, stamps, pens/pencils, notepads, envelopes, bug wipes, flea collars (soldiers put these around their ankles to ward off sand fleas), gel insoles for boots and AC-to-DC power inverters.
Additionally, monetary donations may be made to help pay for shipping care packages, buying tools and equipment, and a coming-home party. Make checks payable to 391st Engineering Battalion.
For information on where to send donations, letters and/or care packages, call (828) 280-1085.
Bolick said she has been surprised at the outpouring of support the troops have received already.
"It's amazing what people will do if you just ask them," she said. "People want to let the guys know they're grateful. We won't let them think we've forgotten them, no matter how long they're gone."
In addition to finding donations for the men, the family group will hold a send-off for the men at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the reserve center at 224 Louisiana Avenue in Asheville.
Parking at the center is limited, so non-family members who attend the event are asked to park in the K-Mart parking lot, just across Patton Avenue. A shuttle will run between the two locations.
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