While President Bush keeps the world guessing about his plans for war, one Ohio State student left yesterday to prepare for it.
Until last week, Chris Strub, 21, was a typical college student majoring in chemistry. But his plans to graduate next winter were put on hold when his platoon sergeant called to say his Marine Reserve unit had been called to active duty.
“I was at work and he called my cell phone,” Strub said. “Of course I was suprised at first, but I also felt excited and ready. I have been training for this for three years.”
Strub had four days to get his personal affairs in order and say his goodbyes.
Growing up in Cincinnati, Strub was the youngest of three brothers. He was outgoing and motivated, always playing sports.
“Chris was so much fun as a child,” said his mother, Jill Strub. “We would call him our ‘family entertainment center.’ “
Strub’s grandfather was in the Navy, and his uncle served in the Marines in Vietnam, but it was his cousin who made him want to enlist in the Marines.
“He was kind of a mentor for me growing up,” Strub said. “He was a Marine reserve and I realized that’s what I wanted to do too.”
Strub enlisted at age 17 when he was a junior at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Three days after graduation, he went to boot camp.
Unlike other branches of the military, all Marines are trained as riflemen, and regardless of occupation, rank or sex, all are trained in the fundamentals of infantry.
Following boot camp, Strub’s skill level allowed him to join the Communications Company of the 4th Marine Division, Headquarters Battalion based in Cincinnati, where he has since been promoted to corporal.
“I was very proud of him,” Jill Strub said. “My concern was that being in the Reserves would disrupt his education.”
But Strub proved to be a successful and active student at OSU. Along with his studies in chemistry, he became a member of the skydiving club and joined the fraternity Phi Kappa Theta.
This deployment will not be Strub’s first time leaving school. He also spent six months in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from February 2001 to August 2001.
“They needed an active-duty radio operator, so I volunteered to go,” Strub said.
He served as a security guard for the Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team Company, and was also the only radio operator at the base.
For his service, he received the Navy Achievement Medal (the Marine Corps are a part of the Navy) and the C-Service Deployment Ribbon for being deployed for more than 90 days. He was also given the title of pistol expert, which can only be achieved after being promoted to corporal.
As Strub faces his next deployment, he has some uncertainties.
“We may be gone for six months, or we may be gone for two years. We don’t know,” he said. He also does not know where he will be going, except that he will leave from Camp Pendleton in California.
Regardless of his destination, the job for which he is trained is field radio operator. His responsibilities are to set up, operate and conduct preventative maintenance of radios. But he might not need to perform these specific duties.
“I have no idea what they’ll want me to do,” Strub said. “I could be on the front lines or I could be dishing out mashed potatoes to a bunch of Marines.” If he were on the front lines, his role would be to provide communication to wherever is needed.
In preparation for deployment, his unit has filled out living wills and also signed powers of attorney, which transfer responsibility for bill payment to a family member. The unit has also been getting vaccinations for various threats, including anthrax.
Last week, Strub quit his job at the Exxon station on Summit Street, even though the Soldiers and Sailors Act states all deployed soldiers are guaranteed their jobs back when they return. He also dropped his classes, for which the university will reimburse him. Strub’s parents will handle his bills, and the alumni of Phi Kappa Theta will let him keep his room for free until he comes back.
Before leaving, Strub tried to spend as much time as possible with his friends, his family and his girlfriend of two years; he had to fit a lot into his last few days in Columbus.
At a family readiness briefing Saturday, the reserves’ loved ones were given information that will help them during their separation. In addition to informing families about legal, medical and employment benefits, the Marine Corps promised to support the families in any way possible.
“We just need to hang in there, support each other and keep living our lives as best we can,” Maj. A.J. Capetillo said.
The total number of Marine Corps reserves to be activated is now 8,729, according to the latest release from the U.S. Department of Defense. This brings the total amount of Reserve and National Guard on active duty to 94,624.
“I hope our country supports these boys,” Jill Strub said. “We’re dealing with a maniac, and I just hope Chris is prepared to deal with that.”
Strub feels ready for the task. Although he is unsure what will be asked of him, he said he is ready to follow orders.
“I believe in my commander in chief, and if he sends me to do a job then I’ll do it,” he said.
