Area military families wait for president's call to duty

Six months ago, Matt Hampton was a full-time soldier. He served in the U.S. Army for 12 years as a generator mechanic. That included a long six months in the Middle East during his tour in the Persian Gulf War.

He joined the army shortly after he graduated from Cape Central High School. The military was his life.

But six months ago, he came home. Hampton, 30, has two children here in Cape Girardeau from a previous marriage -- Matt Jr. and Alyssa -- and he wanted to spend more time with them. His dream was to buy a house and grow old with his wife, Kate, who had also been a soldier, and their son.

But old ways die hard. Hampton figured once a soldier, always a soldier, and he ended up joining the U.S. Army Reserves. It was extra money and it kept that military connection alive, if slightly.

So on Sept. 11, Hampton watched with a soldier's eye as terrorists attacked the United States by hijacking commercial airplanes and flying them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

He knew, now as a part-time soldier, that his duty is to wait.

"Anybody who knows the military knows that when you're a soldier, you have to be ready at an hour's notice," he said.

Hampton joins thousands of other full- and part-time soldiers across the country, waiting for the word to pack their bags and head off to war.

Lengthy battle

During his address Thursday night to a joint session of Congress and the nation, President Bush told Americans to expect a lengthy battle that could be costly. He said it will include all forms of law enforcement as well as reservists.

Hampton serves with the 348th Engineer Co., a pipe-laying unit that makes sure fuel gets to the front lines. While Hampton feels his chances of activation are slight, that does not make them any less real.

"I know it could happen," he said. "But I'm ready. When you sign up, you know that this can happen."

His wife is nervous, but her military experience prepared her for this.

"I speak the language," Kate Hampton said. "If he's called up, I understand and I would be proud of him."

Their son, Justin, 11, also said he was worried. Kate is considering joining the reserves alongside her husband.

"I know they would be doing it to defend their country," he said. "But I wouldn't want them getting killed. Or shot. Or injured."

Other soldiers echoed Hampton's patriotic sentiments. Paul Mingus serves with Hampton. He, too, said he was ready to fight if needed.

"I'm perfectly at ease with it," he said. "I have a wife and a dog and a cat, and I know my wife would be upset about it, but she understands. She doesn't like the idea of it, but she knows."

Strong obligation

Jackson resident Steve Skelton is a captain with the 1140th Engineer Combat Battalion in Cape Girardeau. In his civilian life, he owns Benchmark Printing, is married and has three children ranging in age from 7 to 15.

And he realizes his civilian life might have to soon make way for obligations that are equally strong.

"Of course it would be hard, but think of the alternatives," Skelton said. "There's an opportunity for us to make things a little better for our kids. We've rested just a little bit for the past few years. We've allowed this presence to come in and do what they've done. It's time to get a handle on things."

Capt. Craig Gatzmeyer is a training officer with the engineering brigade for the 35th Infantry Division. He has four children and a wife. There's no question about his willingness to serve.

"How could I not go?" he said. "We've got four kids, and I have trouble thinking that we want to raise them in a free country, but I want somebody else to fight? I want my kids to enjoy those freedoms, and somebody has to be responsible."

Missouri Army National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Tamara Spicer, who is based in Jefferson City, said the guard is ready for any mission required of them.

"I think families of military members always have thoughts in the back of their minds about deployment," she said. "This may have heightened their thoughts, but it shouldn't be a new concern."

Soldiers train for this constantly, she said.

She would not discuss any potential mobilizations. But a listing of the units called to active duty is posted on the defense department's Web site at www.defenselink.mil. If other units are activated in the future, they will be listed on the site.

Concerned parents

It isn't just soldiers who are suffering some degree of apprehension. Parents of soldiers also are scared.

"The first thing that went though my mind was surely they'll put the National Guard in," said Sheila Jones, whose son Ryan Barker of Jackson is in the National Guard. "I'm very scared. I don't want to lose my son. I'm not the only one going through this. We're all scared."

Brenda Jenkins of Perryville has two children in the military. Her son, Matthew, is in the reserves and her daughter Jessica is in active duty Air Force.

"There is anxiety, and of course there's fear of the unknown," she said. "But I'm very proud of our country, and freedom's not free. Somebody has to fight. And we can't all wish that it was somebody else's children."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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