Oct. 2014 story: Fort Bliss families worried about their soldiers going overseas to help stop spread of Ebola
As health officials try to calm concerns about the first confirmed the first case of Ebola in the U.S. , families of soldiers set to the site of the epidemic in West Africa cope with their own fears.
“My husband has to go, ” said Monica Burks, who is married to a soldier stationed at Fort Bliss. She moved to the El Paso post in July with her and their four children.
“They’re sending them real quick,” said Burks. In the next few weeks as many as 500 soldiers with the First Armored Division will deploy to provide logistical and air support – moving cargo, equipment and personnel to Liberia to help international health workers stop the deadly epidemic from spreading.
Burks whose husband returned from Afghanistan in February supports the humanitarian mission in West Africa but cannot help but worry.
“It’s real scary. The first thing I thought of was ‘babe if you go over there and catch the Ebola virus what about your family over here?'” said Burks.
She asked her husband, “What are we going to do? Are they just going to let you come on back?”
The army notified soldiers and their families about the deployment as the Centers for Disease Control confirmed a patient in Dallas was the first confirmed case of Ebola. The man arrived on a flight from Liberia and was in Texas visiting relatives when he had to be hospitalized.
Soldiers from Ft Bliss will join a force of up to 3000 troops heading to West Africa under Operation United Assistance who will get specialized training and equipment. They’re expected to deploy in the next few weeks and be in Liberia by the end of October.
“The military is trained for that and they’re going to go over there with the best gear and equipment to take care of it the best they can do, ” said Megan Lafon.
Her husband is not part of the mission. “I’d be nervous if I had a spouse going over there for obvious reasons but I think we’re best prepared to do it well,” said Megan Lafon.
