Local Marines set for deployment

Eric Leake and Jace Radke

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 9:24 a.m.

About 75 local Marine Corps reservists whose unit was activated 13 months ago don't know when they'll return to Las Vegas. They leave today for the Middle East.

They are the weapons and third platoons of Fox Company of the 2nd battalion 23rd regiment Marines Reserve. The company includes the two Las Vegas platoons as well as two platoons based in Utah, said Lt. Jason Jones, the company's inspector instructor.

When the company was sent to Camp Pendleton, just north of Oceanside, about a year and a month ago, "it was supposed to be only for a year, but it was extended for another year," Jones said.

"Now they are being deployed and there is no limit on how long that will be."

Jones said that although the company's primary mission at Camp Pendleton was to provide extra security after Sept. 11, the company could now be called on for other tasks including infantry duty.

"Fox Company has a great reputation for being well trained and has won competitions for infantry skills," Jones said. "They're ready."

While at Camp Pendleton families have been able to visit the Marines on weekends, but those visits are no longer an option. The camp held a family night for the Marines Thursday as they prepared to leave.

"Because your guys are from Las Vegas, there are probably not too many families that will be there," Capt. Joshua Smith, Camp Pendleton spokesman, said Thursday afternoon.

"Once it's all over, at the end of the night, they all say goodbye to their families, get on the buses, and take off," he said.

Among those being deployed is Lance Cpl. Steven Hatch, 21, a graduate of Silverado High School, who was nervous when he was called to active duty 13 months ago.

"I think everyone is nervous when they are going away during a time of conflict, but we have the training and we're excited to have the opportunity to prove ourselves," Hatch said 13 months ago as he left Las Vegas for California. "We're just going to depend on each other and make sure we all come home."