Published Saturday, February 15, 2003
called to active duty
to California
Herald Staff Writer
Staff Sgt. Charles Norris will not be home to see his daughter's first steps.
Norris, a Hermitage resident and Marine reservist, was called to active duty Sunday. Soon, he and the other members of Detachment A, Landing Support Equipment Company of the 4th Landing Support Battalion, will be in Camp Pendleton, in southern California, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Norris' daughter, 8-month-old Liliana, is just getting to be old enough to walk.
"She's so close," he said. "I wish I could be here for that."
Norris and about 80 other Marines in his unit will be on active duty for at least one year, maybe two. The announcement was made Friday at a news conference at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.
Marines in the detachment are equipment operators, heavy machinery and vehicle mechanics, embarkation specialists and supply administrators.
The group's commanding officer, Capt. Robert Wyssbrod, said his Marines perform a very important duty.
"When you see the Marines in movies, you never stop to think where their ammunition and water come from," he said. "You have no idea how many Humvee tires you need for just one day of operation."
His detachment, he said, has completed training in the Mojave desert, in addition to regular weekend training.
Norris' wife, Diane, said her family had been prepared for the possibility her husband might have to leave for some time. They had a plan, she said, of things they'd have to do when the time came to say good-bye. This isn't the first time her husband has been called to active duty. Norris also served in the Persian Gulf War.
"After Sept. 11, 2001, we knew something might happen. We just didn't know when," Mrs. Norris said.
Cpl. Ronald Blaze, of Mercer, said his family wasn't shocked when they got the news of his activation.
"We expected it sometime," he said. "We just weren't sure when."
Being a Marine is one of Blaze's lifelong dreams.
"I'm doing what I always wanted to do," he said. "I can't just sit idly by. Some people just live their lives, going through the motions. But I am getting an opportunity to give something back to the country that's always taken care of me."
All of the newly activated Marines said their families, friends and employers were very supportive of them when they were notified of their upcoming deployment.
Lance Cpl. Vikki Klingenberger, a native of Parma, Ohio, and a student at Kent State University, said she hadn't planned on staying in the Corps, but after boot camp she decided to stay in the Marines and hopes to become an officer.
"Everyone was very understanding and helpful," she said. "It was just difficult getting it all done in such a short time."
Detachment A will travel to southern California over the weekend. Exactly when and how they will travel cannot be released for security reasons.
"Our orders are for a year," said Lt. Col. Julio Villalba. "We'll be reinforcing the active Marines at Fort Pendleton, but beyond that, I don't know."
The last time the unit was activated was during the Gulf conflict, Villalba said.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com