Families on edge as sons, daughters face possible deployment to Middle East

One of many nervous parents these days is Karen Senger of Joseph, whose son, Spec. Larry Senger, a former Joseph High School student and football player, has been in the U.S. Army for about six years. While he is still stationed in the United States at Ft. Eustis at Norfolk, Va., his wife, Trish, has been in Kuwait since around Christmas time, leaving behind not only her husband but also their baby daughter MacKenzie, who is now six months old. During their Christmas leave while visiting Trish's family in California, they were recalled early to Ft. Eustis, and her unit flew out to the Middle East a few days later.

According to Senger, her daughter-in-law works a tent city near what would become the "front" if the United States goes to war. In an e-mail to her mother -in-law she described her job as working in "supply, keeping accountability of equpment and purchasing equipment that might be needed for our mission. We do drills to be prepared for what happens."

She traveled in convoys, and has been shot at by snipers both while on a convoy and her first base while at Kuwait. Spec. Trish Senger orders supplies for the troops and, along with everyone else, is always cleaning because of frequent sand storms. Guns must be cleaned several times a day during and after the sand storms.

'My daughter-in-law is doing the hardest thing she's ever had to do, leaving her baby and husband to live in a tent in the middle of the desert," said Senger. Among other milestones, the young mother missed being with her daughter when she recently got her first two teeth.

She said that her son, who was stationed for a time in Korea on guard duty on the DMZ line, expected to leave with his daughter for a new duty station, Ft. Irwin at Barstow, Calif., this week, but all transfers and leaves have been canceled because of the Iraqi situation. He currently works in the transportation detail at Ft. Eustis, driving all types of large trucks, tractor/trailers and so forth. He was also chosen to drive a colonel as his personal assistant. Senger said that her son is doing what most single working parents do, leaving his daughter with a baby-sitter while he works. "I've had to sign papers saying I would care for the baby if Larry has to leave for war," Senger said.

Senger has the same mixed emotions that many other families have in the same situation.

"I'm very worried about both of them, and would gladly trade places with Trish if I could," Senger said. "At the same time, I'm so proud of both of them, I can't put my feelings into words. Both of these kids are in unenviable positions, not of their choosing, but they aren't quitters, just like thousands of our children who are protecting America's shores."

Senger said she is able to communicate frequently with her daughter-in-law, thanks to the magic of e-mail, one of many technological changes since the last war with Iraq.

The Senger family is just one of many who is divided or soon will be divided by the impending war.

One local soldier who just got his marching orders to Kuwait is 1st Lt. Charles Neveau, an

Enterprise High School alumni who graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 2001. He has been in aviation training at Ft. Rucker, Ala., since West Point and is now a Blackhawk helicopter pilot. He was sent for duty in Germany just two weeks ago. This week he received new orders and will be deployed to Kuwait within 10 days according to his mother, Vickie Neveau of Enterprise.

"He was just getting settled and being debriefed in Germany," she said. About his new assignment, she said, "I'm worried, naturally. But I'm proud of him. He's doing what he was trained to do. And someone has to do something about Saddam Hussein."

At present, the Wallowa County Chieftain is asking for readers to submit names and e-mail addresses of local sons and daughters in the service, for publication next month in the Chieftain and on its Web site. Bring or mail the information to the Chieftain office, 106 NW First St., Enterprise OR 97846; call 426-4567 or 888-551-9458; or send to cgray@wallowa.com.