Iraq pipeline: Wives of local Marine reservists keep family members informed

Jennifer Knight

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

Elisa Williams and Deanna Goguen have created their own version of the military's Central Command in Las Vegas.

The two women track every movement of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, by monitoring TV reports, scouring newspapers and calling key military contacts to keep families informed about the men and women from Las Vegas who are serving in that unit.

"We're kind of like the go-between," said Williams, a volunteer family coordinator whose husband, Cpl. Drew Williams, is fighting with Fox Company. "If you're having problems we will tell you who to contact."

Dubbed "Saints and Sinners," a reference to its 160 members from Utah and Nevada, the unit has seen plenty of action during the military conflict in Iraq. It took fire in Nasiriyah, had nine people wounded in Baghdad and encountered a terrorist training camp and suspected rolling biological laboratories.

The unit, which includes 90 reservists from Las Vegas, participated in the raid Wednesday on the home of Rihab Taha, dubbed "Dr. Germ" by United Nations inspectors because they suspected her of "weaponizing" anthrax.

"It is the most outstanding unit in the Marine Corps Reserves," said Goguen, whose husband, Capt. Mark Goguen, is in Fox Company. "Of late, they have shown significant signs of superiority. That's why I think they are out in front."

Decorated for being the best reserve unit in the country, Fox Company has became the "tip of the spear" in several key operations as they entered Baghdad, military officials said this week.

While the troops are away, worried relatives are often desperate for information about their whereabouts and safety.

In response, Goguen and Williams set up a loose-knit communications network with assistance from the military. The network makes use of phone trees and e-mail lists to keep Fox Company family members up to date.

Capt. Chico Manning, the family readiness officer for Fox Company, based in Encino, Calif., said the network is a crucial part of the support system for Marines because volunteers not only try to get accurate information to families, but they also provide emotional support.

"It works just like the Marine Corps," Manning said. "They pass information down the line."

Manning said there is one volunteer for every 10 Marines. Williams' group is made up of 12 wives, who each pass information on to five contacts under them, and so on.

Goguen handles parents and has about 40 to 50 primary people on her e-mail list, who then pass on information about the battalion to others.

The first days of the war proved the most tense because military officials were not providing any information, the participants said.

Goguen said she quickly found three reporters who were embedded with Fox Company: one with a Japanese newspaper, another with Agence France-Press and another with Stars and Stripes. Each time a report was filed, she would pass that on to others in the information network.

"It was just two people when the war broke out," said Debbie Calarco, the mother of Lance Cpl. Michael Calarco. "We've networked out to the point where people who don't even have boys over there are calling me to see how my son is."

By trading information, members of the network were able to find out that the battalion was stationed at Camp Coyote before moving on to Nasiriyah.

Reports from Stars and Stripes said that the "2-23rd" Marines during the early days of the conflict were "relegated to the rear, securing bridges and holding towns as reinforced Marine regiments passed by them."

As the battalion entered Baghdad, however, they got their first taste of battle as they entered Nasiriyah and all through their push to Baghdad.

Calarco, like most mothers or wives of Marines in Iraq, was glued to her television looking for any information on her son or his unit. When Fox Company entered Baghdad, Fox News reporter Rick Leventhal became embedded with that unit and provided a wealth of information, she said.

"They're all so familiar with each other right now they just call and say, 'Hey, did you see my son on TV last night?' " Manning said. "I've heard of ladies who leave their VCRs on Fox News and just tape everything."

Those TV reports have become the main source of information for the families. When the station reported nine people from Fox Company had been wounded last week, Goguen and Williams sprang into action to find out who was hurt and how badly.

"Elisa and I knew to brace ourselves after that," Goguen said. "One of the families were told their son was seriously wounded. They called me and wanted to know how bad it was. I made some calls and within three minutes was able to tell them it wasn't life-threatening and put them greatly at ease."

The television has become a blessing for some families, who want as much information as possible, but a curse for others.

Linda Scaduto, whose son Lance Cpl. George Scaduto Jr. is with Fox Company, hadn't heard from him since the conflict began, but was relieved when she saw him on television last week.

Williams said she has videotapes of her husband's debut on national TV. "The last time I saw him was Friday night at 2 in the morning," Williams said.

Williams and several family members of Fox Company watched a key raid on the home of Rihab Taha, the wife of Gen. Amer Mohammed Rashid, Iraq's foreign minister of oil. The raid netted several documents that that officials hope will lead them to proof of Iraq's production of biological weapons.

Goguen said that while seeing her husband on TV is often a comfort for her, she said events like the raid the other night is confusing for their son Jake, who will be 4 years old in May.

"He's excited, but it makes him sad too," Goguen said. "The other night he stayed up late to see him. He saw his father sitting there with a great big 9mm gun and a great big knife strapped to his leg. I think it's hard for him to understand that."

Goguen added that she balances that with playing a tape of her husband reading Jake's favorite book to him so "he can hear his daddy's voice."

"I think he's going to be fine," Goguen said. "I know that Jake is going to grow up to be very proud of him. He's probably going to grow up to be a Marine."