Call to war is thinning local government ranks

By Brian Kelly and Susanna Ray

Herald Writers

ARLINGTON — America’s war on terrorism is starting to thin the ranks of local governments as officials who hold part-time jobs as reservists are ordered into action.

Arlington City Council member Dan Anderson, a weapons sergeant in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, was told last week to get ready for deployment to Kuwait.

His company will relieve another Green Beret unit in Kuwait that’s being shifted to duties elsewhere, Anderson said. He expects to leave Arlington for the National Guard armory in Buckley on Monday.

"It’s sinking in," Anderson said. "I’m beginning to put on my war-game face. I just keep replaying the image in my mind of those buildings falling and those innocent people.

"I’m livid about it," he said. "It’s time for them to pay."

Anderson said his company commander told them during last weekend’s drill to get ready for a 120-day deployment. He said he expects to remain in the United States for 30 days before being sent overseas. His commander has told Anderson that soldiers in his unit will be receiving combat pay during their deployment.

"He told us to do everything we need to do to get ready to go," Anderson recalled. "Basically, he wanted us to go home and tell our wives we’re going to war. He said they deserve to know."

Anderson, a Washington State Patrol trooper, joined the National Guard Special Forces group in 1988 after a stint in the Marines. He was not called up during the Gulf War, and originally didn’t think he would be activated for service in response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Now, Anderson is saying his good-byes to his wife and young son.

"I just hope the community — and we have a terrific church and friends — that they will support her. She’s supporting me."

He’s also be away from his re-election campaign to the city council, but Anderson said just because voters won’t see him on the campaign trail this fall doesn’t mean he no longer wants to keep serving the city.

"All I could ask from the voters is that they just give me a fair shake," he said. "Make the decision they would have made if this was not happening at all. I think that’s the fairest thing."

Arlington council member Dennis Byrnes, Anderson’s election opponent, said his counterpart’s departure will affect both campaigns. He recalled his reaction when Anderson told him he was being called up.

"That hit me like somebody kicked me in the stomach," Byrnes said. "It was really wrenching."

Byrnes said he will pretty much stop his campaign the day before Anderson is deployed. "I will go ahead and doorbell Sunday, but that’s going to be it."

A previously planned endorsement ad will run, Byrnes added.

Like others, Byrnes said he is struggling to understand the terrorist attacks and is concerned for those who will now lead the fight against America’s foes.

"I have a great deal of respect for all of our service people who are putting their lives on the line. To me, that’s a real sacrifice. I appreciate and respect everybody who does that."

Anderson is not the only one who has had to give up time on the campaign trail.

State Rep. Dave Schmidt, R-Bothell, who is running for a Snohomish County Council seat this fall, was called up by the National Guard earlier this month.

He originally thought he would spend about a month helping to process other newly called National Guardsmen at Camp Murray near Tacoma, but he finished the job in about two weeks.

Schmidt said he doesn’t expect the lost weekends of doorbelling and fund-raising to make a difference in the election.

Others across Snohomish County are also answering the call.

Edmonds Fire Marshal John Westfall’s answering machine says it all: "I’ll be out of the office for an undetermined amount of time."

Assistant fire chief Kevin Taylor said Westfall was a Navy SEAL, and now that he’s in the reserves he’s a Navy diver assigned to a harbor defense unit in Oak Harbor.

The Edmonds Fire Department had two days’ notice about three weeks ago to figure out how to replace Westfall, who received orders for up to a year.

"The first few days we treated it like he was on vacation, but now we’re like, whoa," Taylor said. "If I wasn’t for the neighbors, we’d be in a lot tougher shape."

Nearby fire departments and experienced firefighters plan to help out, Taylor said, and senior inspector Mike Smith was promoted to acting fire marshal.

"We definitely are adjusting, and we’re a little slower" with fire investigations, safety inspections and building plan reviews, Taylor said. "But people have been understanding."

You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to kelly@heraldnet.com.

You can call Herald Writer Susanna Ray at 425-339-3439

or send e-mail to ray@heraldnet.com.

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