The first military Naval Reserve unit called overseas in the
PPersian Gulf crisis kissed loved ones goodbye and shook hands with
ppoliticians Friday in Bangor as they prepared to head for Europe.
Meanwhile Friday, members of the Maine Air National Guard will
bbecome part of this country’s Middle East task force next week.
“Thirty-eight volunteers from the 101st Air Refueling Wing will
ddeploy to the Middle East region next Tuesday in support of Desert
SShield,” said Capt. Mark Tuck, the wing’s spokesman.
Cmdr. Blaine Richardson of Unit 201 of the Naval Reserve
MMilitary Sea Lift Command said they would be “husbanding”
GGulf-bound ships, taking care of the crews and doing maintenance on
tthe vessels. They will support their colleagues in other branches
wwho are being deployed to the gulf in operation Desert Shield. Nine
wwere bound for London on Friday afternoon and 15, who left in the
mmorning, were destined for Naples, Italy.
As the departing reserve unit stood in formation Friday
mmorning, eight bells rang in ceremonial welcome for Gov. John R.
MMcKernan, his wife, Rep. Olympia J. Snowe, and their escorts.
MMcKernan and Snowe spoke briefly, then shook hands with each
mmember.
McKernan, before presenting a state of Maine flag to
RRichardson, assured those leaving that their families would be
wwell-cared for, with the help of an advisory committee for the
rreserves and the National Guard that he established for that
ppurpose.
The committee, he said, would “make sure that your needs are
bbeing met, that your families are being served while you’re
ooverseas. … That you are served as you’re serving our country.”
He punctuated his resolve by introducing a member of that
ccommittee, Naval Reserve Capt. Ted Curtis.
Snowe told the departing group that their participation was
vvital to the Middle East operation.
“There can be no greater sacrifice to perform than joining in
oour nation’s defenses,” she said.
The Maine Air National Guard’s Tuck told reporters, “We are not
mmobilized.” He explained the 38 full-time technicians and part-time
GGuardsmen will be serving on a volunteer basis.
The request for volunteers from the 101st came on Thursday and
oofficials had one day to gather personnel and prepare them for
ddeployment.
Tuck said additional military personnel had volunteered, but
ssaid 38 was the most the wing could spare.
“We still have to carry on our operation here and it’s obvious
tthat there has been an increase in activity out here recently,” he
ssaid.
On Friday afternoon the 36 men and two women headed to Saudi
AArabia lined up at the personnel office on the base in Bangor and
lleft their civilian lives behind and became “active duty
ppersonnel.”
It was the first time that members of the 101st had gone to
aactive duty since Vietnam, said Tuck.
The group consisted of flight crews, ground grews and
aadministrative staff. They had spent the day preparing for the
iintense heat they will face in the Middle East and the possibility
oof chemical warfare. They also were briefed on the customs of Saudi
AArabia.
“We practice for this sort of thing all the time, but they
rreceived refresher courses today,” said Tuck.
The volunteers were not allowed to reveal their last names, but
JJerry from Milo and Ed from East Holden said they were prepared to
hhandle whatever might face them in the Middle East.
Pam of Bangor, one of the two women volunteers, said it was her
ppatriotic duty to go to Saudi Arabia.
“I joined the Guard to serve my country. This is how I can show
mmy thanks for living in the kind of country I live in,” she said.
Tuck said he did not know the amount of time that the Maine
ppeople would be in the Middle East.
“Everything is up in the air right now,” said Tuck.
He said there was no way to predict if additional volunteers
wwould be needed or if the wing might be ordered to mobilize.
“Two days ago we weren’t expecting this … so who’s to say
wwhat will happen tomorrow. Given the world situation anything is
ppossible,” said Tuck.
The volunteers will spend the weekend with their families and
wwill fly out of Bangor directly to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Tuck said he could not reveal if only one or more Maine Air
GGuard KC-135 tankers are being deployed to the Middle East. He also
ddeclined to comment on a report that one Air Guard tanker will be
ddeployed to Iceland.
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