Members of the N.C. National Guard's 210th Military Police Co. in Sylva learned last week they'll be deployed as part of "Operation Enduring Freedom." Working Tuesday on pre-mobilization procedures were, from left, Corp. David Lovedahl, Staff Sgt. Mark Horace and Sgt. Steve Lillard. - Herald photo by Kelly Timco
As soon as they learned they were being deployed, three members of the 210th Military Police Co. called their boss to let him know they wouldn't be a work for a while. Until last week, Steve Lillard, Kenneth Woodring and David Lovedahl, as National Guard members, were known as "Weekend Warriors," defending the country one weekend a month. In civilian life, though, the trio served the citizens of Jackson County as law enforcement officers. "The three are at the National Guard Armory for the next two weeks preparing for deployment," Sheriff Jimmy Ashe said of his employees. "Their official activation date is March 15. That's when they'll receive their orders." Military police company members in the 210th from Sylva, Franklin and Murphy and the 211th from Clyde and East Flat Rock learned Friday they would join 10 other National Guard units already assigned to "Operation Enduring Freedom." Three other units in North Carolina have joined to form "Operation Noble Eagle," for a total of 1,590 soldiers called to full-time service from the Tar Heel State. As the U.S. military prepares for a possible war in Iraq, unit activations across the country have removed some 144,000 law enforcement officers from service in their hometowns, Ashe said. The impact is being felt most on small agencies, like the Sheriff's Office, he said. "We are facing a loss of personnel for an extended period of time," said the sheriff, who indicated he'd made the county manager and commissioners aware of how the recent deployment has affected his office. While the officers' positions will be held until their return, full-time, temporary replacements may need to be recruited, he said. "Not only are these men making a sacrifice for the citizens of Jackson County, but now they are being called to help defend the citizens of the United States," Ashe said. "All three are dedicated, hard-working officers and soldiers. "The greatest impact, of course, will be to their families, who will be facing the absence of a husband and father." Sgt. Lillard, who is scheduled to become a father for a second time this Friday when his wife has a cesarean section, agreed with Ashe. "I'll get to spend a week with my newborn before I have to leave," he said. |