News from December 1, 2005 issue

Through words of encouragement, hugs, tears, well-wishes and last-minute gifts of phone cards, members of Marion's 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor received a hero's departure Sunday. The 43-member unit left Marion mid-day after an encouraging and patriotic service attended by more than 500 at Rocket Arena. The unit's traditional march down Cherry and Bellville streets to the courthouse was cancelled because of rain and the ceremony moved indoors.

Departing soldiers are now at Camp Shelby, Miss., training for three months before they will likely deploy to Iraq. Some family members say they are fortunate that they will have their sons and fathers home for a brief time during Christmas.

Brigadier General Norman Arflack, a Marion native, said in his remarks Sunday that deployment is a tough time for families and guardsmen.
"Every day we wake up genuinely concerned about the soldiers, and we do all we can to ensure they are the best prepared, best trained and best equipped," Arflack said.

Bravo Company Commander Cpt. Ron Ballard said the term "weekend warrior" is diminishing and instead National Guardsmen more accurately are citizen soldiers who train very hard for their responsibilities.

The nature of the unit's focus has changed from that of armor tactics to infantry, 1st Sgt. Bobby Neal said while soldiers packed personal belongings and loaded containers for transport last Wednesday at the armory.

Early in November, the unit underwent new training in basic artillery and counter-terrorism tactics that included drills in home and vehicle searches, close quarter marksmanship and convoy escort in preparation for their assumed role in Iraq.

"All the soldiers are excited about going," Neal said. "They have no serious issues with going except leaving moms and kids behind.

"They have a great outlook and they've worked really hard."

Five members of the unit are residents of Crittenden County and a handful of others are from Salem and Sturgis. Still others are from Louisville, Leitchfield and Bowling Green.

This is the third National Guard deployment for Spec. Jim Young, a father of two, who served in Germany and Bosnia. While he is often away from his two sons for extended periods because of his civilian job as a methane gas driller, the Marion soldier said he will miss his boys more while overseas. They, like other families were able to spend some time with their guardsmen at Marion's armory last Wednesday before families participated in informational sessions conducted by the guard and had military family identification badges made.

Spec. Kyle Craig of Marion is among the youngest members of the unit at 19. Craig joined under the Kentucky National Guard's split option program, allowing him to complete basic training the summer before his senior year of high school and then join the unit immediately following graduation. He is anxious but ready to be called to duty. A student at Murray State University, Craig had to withdraw at the beginning of November when mobilization orders were received.
Michael Wilson of Sturgis, father of brothers Mark and Brandon Wilson who were deployed Sunday, says he has mixed emotions about having both his boys possibly serving in Iraq.

"I hate to see both of them go off, but I hate to see one of them over there by himself. I worry that one might put himself in danger if something happens to the other, so it's extremely difficult," Wilson said.

"My kids have always been close, so I think Brandon thought if Mark was going he'd go too to kind of look after his brother."

Staff Sgt. Brandon Wilson, who turned 24 Monday, was deployed with the local unit to Germany in 2002. Pfc. Mark Wilson, like Spec. Craig and Spec. Josh Jackson, all of Marion, had been serving as National Guard recruiter's assistants in surrounding communities for the past several months.

Having the soldiers home for Thanksgiving and anticipating their return for Christmas makes their deployment a little easier to take this time of year, Michael Wilson says.

"It gives us a little more time with them before they ship out and hopefully something will happen between now and then and they won't deploy ­ that is what everybody is hoping for."

Two die in separate wrecks
Statewide, Kentucky State Police say the roadways were safer during the recent Thanksgiving holiday period than they were last year, but that was not true in Crittenden County. Here, two people died in separate accidents. One of those who died was a Crittenden County High School junior, the other a Ledbetter woman. State police say neither victim was wearing a seatbelt.

A half-dozen counselors were present to talk with grieving Crittenden County High School students Monday morning. Many of the students learned of the death of 16-year-old Colt Herran when arriving at school.

Herran lost control of a 1999 Chrysler LHS at 8 p.m., Sunday night about a mile from his home on Ky. 120. Herran's vehicle exited the highway, struck a tree and then a culvert. Herran was pronounced dead at the scene by coroner Britt Gilbert.

Two passengers, high school juniors Kelsey Simpson and Tiffany Kivela, were flown to Deaconess and St. Mary's hospitals in Evansville. Volunteers from the Crittenden County Rescue Squad worked for more than an hour to free the teenagers from the wreckage.
Simpson was in stable condition though still in the intensive care unit at Deaconess Wednesday morning. Kivela was transferred to an Indianapolis hospital, friends say, where she underwent hip surgery. Simpson is a manager of the Crittenden County Rocket football team, a lifeguard at the local pool and active in many school activities. Kivela attends trade school at Caldwell County Vocational School.

Friends and teachers describe Herran as a friendly, polite teenager who liked to deer hunt, duck hunt and ride 4-wheelers. He was involved in the FFA and was active in the agriculture department, according to FFA teacher Larry Duvall.

"He was an all-around good kid. He liked anything hands-on or mechanical and especially enjoyed the Farm Machinery Show," Duvall said.

Herran's funeral was held at Rocket Arena Wednesday. School Superintendent John Belt approved the release of students to attend the services if they had parental permission.

Counselors talked one-on-one with students early in the week and were available Wednesday afternoon to assist in the grieving process.

The first fatality last weekend occurred on Thanksgiving Day on View Road in rural Crittenden County.

Beverly Marshall, 39, died after her Toyota Camry collided head-on at about 11:30 p.m., with a Chevy Blazer driven by Stacy Wallace of Marion. Marshall was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, Adrian Spencer of Florida, was transported to Crittenden Hospital and later flown to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Wallace was transported to Livingston Hospital.