Broken Arrow US Marines prepare for deployment

Local US Marine reserves are being called to active duty. 50 Marines from two Anti-Tank sections out of Broken Arrow will report for duty by the end of the week. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Patrina

Monday, May 31st 2004, 5:06 pm

By: News On 6

Local US Marine reserves are being called to active duty. 50 Marines from two Anti-Tank sections out of Broken Arrow will report for duty by the end of the week.

News on 6 reporter Patrina Adger talks to one young Marine who's preparing for his first deployment.

20-year-old Beau Jones is getting his third round of anthrax shots. "What they like to do is get everybody mobilizing get, they like to get the first three series into it." He only has a few days to make sure all his shots; personal records and military equipment are in order before he leaves for active duty. Beau is with Broken Arrow's Weapons Company, which destroys enemy tanks.

As a US Marine reservist he trains one weekend a month to prepare for the possibility of going to war. It's something he says he knew would eventually happen, but when it becomes a reality the love ones still have to. "My family is sad for me to go, but my family is behind me." Many of the reserves will not only be leaving behind families, but jobs as well.

Beau says he makes a living. A lot of the Marines that are here as reservists have jobs in the civilian sector and they came in here because they love what they do. And Beau says loving his job as a Marine and knowing his family supports him makes it that much easier to get through his first deployment. "When the mission calls we're here to do it!â€

The Marines and their families will get together this Thursday for Family Day at the Marine Reserves Unit in Broken Arrow. They will be told what to expect during the deployment, which take up to two years.

The unit will leave for Camp Pendleton California by Friday.