Utahns proud to help with war

As war with Iraq begins, pride in the soldiers, concern about safety and sorrowful memories come to the forefront for Utahns with a special connection to the conflict.

David Buck, a senior at Brigham Young University, Provo, is proud of his wife, 2nd Lt. Caryn Buck, a member of the Utah National Guard 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion. The unit has been training at Fort Carson, Colo., preparing for duty as translators and interrogators.

In a recent interview, Caryn Buck noted that she had to leave not only her husband behind, but also their 7-month-old son, Michael. The baby is doing well, David Buck said on Wednesday.

"My feelings about the war haven't changed," David Buck added. "I've always been a supporter. When the commander-in-chief makes a decision, you know, I'll fall in line as a citizen.

"In my case, that means, of course, putting my wife's life on the line."

He is concerned about his wife's welfare. But he believes that as a member of a linguist group, she will not be in as much danger as would some other soldiers.

"Of course she's scared, but she is anxious to do what she's called out to do," he said.

His feeling is that fighting may not extend beyond a week. But a great deal of work will remain after the military action is over. "There's going to be a lot of cleanup and a lot of helping the civilians.

"I mean, I think a lot of this war's going to be humanitarian more than it is government overthrow," Buck said.

He added that he is proud of his wife and that "I support her and the military 100 percent."

That feeling is echoed by Kris Jansen, Tooele, wife of Sgt. Kenneth Jansen, a trainer stationed at Fort Carson for up to a year. He is a member of the 2nd Brigade, 91st Division, Army Reserves, and was activated in January.

"I'm very proud of my husband," she said. She is also proud of all that the American military is doing "to protect us and ensure our freedom," she added.

Jennifer Gabrielson, the wife of another trainer at Fort Carson, Capt. Aaron Gabrielson, hopes the war will be wrapped up soon "and I hope that all of the soldiers that are over in the Middle East will come back to their families."

Her husband, also a member of the 2nd Brigade, 91st Division, may be gone for a year. But if he is able to return earlier, she said, "it's great."