Deployed airmen face sacrifices

Jace Radke

Friday, May 23, 2003 | 10:12 a.m.

When Senior Airman Ray Campbell leaves for Iraqi next week he knows he'll miss his 11-month-old daughter's first birthday.

Campbell met his daughter, Luhnyae, for the first time five months ago when he returned from a yearlong deployment in Korea.

"I missed the first six months of her life, but I'm glad I was able to get to know her over the last five months," Campbell said. "She knows who I am now, and calls me Daddy, so it's a little harder to leave."

Campbell is one of 25 airmen with the 757th Maintenance Squadron being sent overseas to help maintain the unmanned RQ-1 Predator drones that are flying reconnaissance missions in the Middle East.

While much of the fighting in Iraq is over, terrorist attacks and accidents are still very real concerns, Campbell said as he went through a deployment line Thursday to pick up a gas mask, a chemical suit and other equipment.

"People probably don't think about it as much, but it's still dangerous over there," Campbell said. "I guess there is a little sigh of relief, but it really doesn't matter when we go over. We've got a mission to do and that's our focus."

On May 19 four U.S. Marines were killed when a CH-46 SeaKnight helicopter crashed in Iraq, and on May 18 a Marine was killed when the transport truck he was riding in rolled.

As Campbell and his fellow airmen made their way through the nondescript warehouse were they collected their gear Thursday, they were also reminded of the dangers of terrorism.

A special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations briefed the airmen, reminding them to vary the routes they take to and from work and to keep a low profile. He also told them to stay alert and report everything no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Master Sgt. Neil Jensen, who will also leave with the 757th next week, has been deployed to Kuwait three times in the last year, and says he is used to taking precautions.

"Being in Kuwait there is always the threat of terrorist attacks," Jensen said. "It's a lot more restrictive over there. During one of my deployments we weren't even allowed off the base.

"It's very controlled."

The American Red Cross and other agencies supporting troops also have to be aware of the customs and environment in the countries they are sending care packages to, Red Cross volunteer Nancy Colburn said.

"We had a crossword puzzle book we were going to send, but there was an advertisement for a bra on the back, so we couldn't send it," Colburn said. "It may be something that's part of our everyday culture, but not in other countries."

Jensen said he just concentrates on his mission when deployed.

"We've been working in the Middle East since the Gulf War in 1991," Jensen said. "A lot of the fighting may be over, but we still have a job to do."