Reservists join war on terror

The balloons were a patriotic red, white and blue, and the groom and many of his guests wore camouflage and boots. The best man helped the groom adjust -- not a bow tie -- but his military-issue black beret.

And when the dog-tag-wearing reverend finally gave the couple permission to kiss, they did so like it would be one of the last times they'd get the chance.

That's because it would be, at least for a while.

The wedding of Spc. Euseke Rodgers and Pamela Porter served as a send-off for area reservists who will join Operation Enduring Freedom, the nation's counterterrorism effort, including a possible war with Iraq. Seventeen are cleared to go, and three more are awaiting clearance to serve.

The Charleston, Mo., couple's wedding was held Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Army Reserve Training Center in Cape Girardeau during a family day event for the departing soldiers.

"We've been wanting to get married for a year," said Rodgers, 24, who works at Tyson Foods in Dexter, Mo. "When I found out we were leaving, I thought it would be a good time. I asked her and she said yes."

After the wedding, the renamed Pam Rodgers -- who is five months pregnant with Rodgers' child -- was asked how she'd get by without her new husband.

"I don't know," she said nearly in tears, with her face pressed against her husband's chest. "I honestly don't know."

The troops are part of the 348th Engineer Co. They have been activated to join the 389th Engineer Battalion out of Dubuque, Iowa, according to Army Reserve spokesman Frank Tucker, who is a civilian who works at the unit's St. Louis headquarters.

"Some people from units are being called up to fill voids in other units," Tucker said.

He said that in the next few days -- the soldiers thought it would be this weekend -- they will be traveling to Iowa where they will receive additional training. Then, they will move on to a mobilization station somewhere else. He said he doesn't know where they will end up and neither do the soldiers.

"They're being called up for Enduring Freedom, that's all we know," he said. The orders are for up to two years.

While the unit here is mainly made up of pipeline construction workers, the Iowa battalion's job is construction -- erecting buildings, bridges and a variety of other things, Tucker said. Maj. Leo Buchheit, the company commander, said the people going include carpenters, plumbers, masons, welders, heavy-equipment operators and cooks.

"They'll be ready to do whatever is asked of them," he said.

More than 150,000 Army Reserve and National Guard troops have been mobilized in the interests of national security.

Spc. Carmen Owen, who was promoted from private first class Thursday, is the only woman from the local unit to go. She said she really wasn't nervous, even though she's only been out of basic and advanced individual training a few months.

"I've always wanted to be a soldier," said Owen, 23. "I'm kind of excited. It should be a lot of fun."

She said being the only woman does not mean she is taking all of this differently than her male counterparts.

"I want to be just one of the troops," she said. "The guys here are really good about treating me as an equal."

Over the past two weeks, three other departing reservists have gotten married before they left.

"They rushed to get married for a lot of reasons," said Sgt. Matt Hampton, who is among those being activated. "They want to make sure their loved ones are taken care of, and the Army offers medical benefits and more pay. If we're killed, a fiancee gets nothing."

Asked if dying is on the minds of the soldiers, Hampton -- who also has served in the Persian Gulf -- said: "I'm going over there with the presumption I may not come home."

On Thursday, families crowded into the training center. Husbands and wives talked together and their children played. The room was decorated with balloons and music played from a small compact disk player.

Pfc. Cletis Powell, a truck driver from Poplar Bluff, Mo., held his 15-month-old daughter, Maria, while his wife, Roberta, stood by.

"I'll miss her," he said of his only child. "But when I joined, I joined to serve. I got called, now I'm going."

Roberta Powell said she has tried not to show her husband how upset his leaving has made her.

"I don't want to make it worse on him," she said. "And I do have good family support. It's going to be hard, but we'll be OK."

Helping each other

The spouses are already forming a support group and wife Tina Plaskie -- whose husband, John, is leaving -- is one of them. She said it is for anyone who has a connection to the soldiers. They will meet regularly, start a newsletter and get a list together of businesses that can help with needs like plumbing, automotive care, etc. Sometimes those businesses give discounts, she said.

"But first and foremost, we are going to help each other live without fear," she said. "These men are trained and well educated. They know what they're doing. It's hard at first, but it's something we should be proud that they're doing."

One of Rodgers two best men, civilian Cartez Wallace, said he has known Rodgers since childhood.

"We've been friends since crayons and coloring books," he said. "I hope he just takes it easy and makes sure he comes back safe. That's my boy."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137