Wives walk mile in husbands' combat boots

[thedrifter]

Wives walk mile in husbands' combat boots
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20031114174041
Story by Sgt. Jim Heuston



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Shannon Rose couldn't stop grinning. She walked off the firing line, fresh from unleashing a string of automatic machine-gun fire and a brand-new perspective into her husband's daily grind.

"It was awesome," said Shannon, wife of Pfc. Jereomy Rose. "I wish I had more bullets."

Rose was among more than 100 wives of Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment who joined their Marines on Camp Pendleton for a "Jane Wayne" Day. It's a day designed to bring families together before the Marines, once again, ship out for overseas duty.

The battalion is slated to leave for Okinawa in December. But with announcements of more Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force returning to Iraq, the deployment is bringing concerns about the last time they deployed. The battalion was slated to go to Okinawa when it was diverted for duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"They know when your part of the (Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations) program, you're the first to get called," said Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, the battalion's commanding officer. "I'm sure some of the same fears and things are with them today as they were when they were on deployment (in Iraq)."

Byrne knows deployments are stressful to marriages and wanted to use the Jane Wayne Day to bring families a little closer before the deployment.

"The biggest thing I'm trying to do through our involvement of the wives is to ensure that these Marines remain married," he said.

For many of the new wives, it was their first opportunity to see what their husbands do for a living. For the grunts, that meant lots of rifles and machine guns.

"I think it was cool," Shannon said. "I don't know why he comes home complaining. He comes home and he's tired. I love this."

Rose enjoyed the fact his wife gained a new appreciation for his trade, but doubts she wants to take up the job herself.

"I think it's good for her to get a chance to shoot 'em," Rose said. "Other than that, I don't think she wants the job."

Lance Cpl. Angel Quiles' wife, Juliet, walked away with a different point of view. She rubbed her jaw and laughed as she explained how she forgot to press her cheek against the butt-stock of the rifle to brace against the recoil.

"I'm already tired," Juliet said, pointing out her bumps and scrapes from shooting. "I want a shower, and I haven't even done like an hour of it."

The Quiles were married just three weeks before the Jane Wayne Day. Still, separation and worry are already part of their relationship.

"This is the second time I'm leaving her," Quiles said.

Juliet said she's happy this time her husband is headed to Okinawa.

"It's better than Iraq," Juliet said. "It's way better. I'd rather see him over there than in Iraq."

Byrne hopes that by increasing the wives' awareness of what their Marines do during the day, he can bring them closer together.

"We raise their level of understanding for when he comes home exhausted during the day," Byrne said. "These wives were scared to death that their husbands were in danger when they were over with the battalion. The battalion saw some hellacious fighting while it was in Iraq. By trying to bring them closer together, we're trying to ease their fears as we get ready to go."

For her part, Shannon realized before the day was out why her Marine is so tired at the end of the day. A run through the obstacle course cured her of any doubts.

"No, I don't want his job anymore," Shannon said. "It was fun though, I'll tell you that."



Marines help their wives through the obstacle course on San Mateo at Camp Pendleton, Calif. for Jane Wayne Day. The obstacle course was one of the day's bonding experiences, as Marines and their wives negotiated the course together. Photo by: Sgt. Jim Heuston

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Sempers,

Roger