Naval unit says goodbye, heads overseas > 338 volunteer from ANG wing G

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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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