Blunt called for naval reserve duty

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Secretary of State Matt Blunt says he will help operate his office from afar while simultaneously deployed by the Navy as part of the nation's response to recent terrorist attacks.

Blunt, a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve, is to depart Tuesday for active duty. He received orders to serve 12 months but said it was unclear how long he would be gone from Missouri.

Regardless, "I will remain responsible for what happens in the secretary of state's office," he said.

Blunt said he had not been informed of his assignment, but added that he is likely to be sent a Navy installation overseas. He is part of a Naval Activities Support unit that trained in June in the United Kingdom.

The Republican secretary of state is the first statewide elected official in Missouri to ever be called to active military duty, although four state representatives and one senator were activated during World War II, said state archivist Ken Winn.

Blunt says he believes he is the only statewide official in the nation to be placed on active military duty in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Like most Americans, I'm willing to do whatever is asked of me as we try to respond to this difficult situation," Blunt said in an interview.

In his absence, Executive Deputy Secretary of State Dan Ross will manage the daily affairs of the office, making purchasing and employment decisions and signing documents with either his own signature or an automated version of Blunt's name, depending on which is most appropriate.

The secretary of state's name is placed on everything from foreign adoption papers to gubernatorial proclamations to certificates recognizing contributions to the state library and archives.

"Other than a very familiar name and face in front of the camera, the operations of the office will go on," Ross said. "Matt Blunt will be operating from remote control, unless he's assigned to a ship."

Entered in 1998

Blunt left active duty and entered the reserves in 1998, winning election that year as a state representative.

The oldest son of U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., he was the only Republican to win election to statewide office last November. Blunt was sworn in as secretary of state in January.

Roy Blunt said his son had spent much of the past 10 years in a Navy uniform and is prepared for action.

"This is a time when a lot of Americans are making sacrifices, and his mother and I are very proud that he is so well-prepared and willing to serve our country," he said.

Blunt said he planned to be in daily contact with the secretary of state's office. He has been heavily involved in efforts to overhaul the state's elections laws and promised that cause would continue.

"Missourians should not be concerned about the quality of service that they will receive while I am gone," he said.

No special treatment

Blunt said he would receive no special military treatment because he is an elected official.

"I'm a drilling reservist," he said. "Whatever assigned task they want me to do, I'll certainly be willing to do it."

The secretary of state has a bachelor of science degree in history from the U.S. Naval Academy and served five years on active duty before joining the Naval Reserve.

Blunt was an engineering officer aboard the frigate USS Jack Williams. He later spent two years as the navigator and administrative officer on the destroyer USS Peterson.

He participated in a United Nations blockade of Haiti and also was involved in the interdiction of Cuban migrants in 1994, as well as drug interdiction missions off the coast of South America.

Blunt said 19 of the 53 members in his Navy Reserve unit had been activated so far.

The military call up of elected officials is not unprecedented. During World War III, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in two cases that officials called to active duty do not forfeit their office. Those cases dealt with a circuit court clerk and a circuit judge.