MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Steam rises from a cup of coffee that is stirred in circles. An ivory-hair-colored woman is holding the cup and continues stirring and starts staring at posters hanging on the walls in her place of business; Posters displaying the correct way to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and other lifesaving techniques and a red cross surrounded by the pallid color of white.
Lynne S. Hammonds, American Red Cross station manager, is currently stationed here. But the 61-year-old Red Cross employee will soon be relocated to Balad, Iraq.
On a six-month deployment, Hammonds along with two other Red Cross employees, will be doing emergency communications work at an Iraqi military base that was taken over by the coalition during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their duty primarily consists of notifying troops in Iraq if health problems from family back home erupts or any births occur.
Working with the Red Cross for 27 years, Hammonds has been stationed in Texas, Maryland, California, and other parts of the world including Puerto Rico, Bosnia and Kosovo.
In preparation for her next assignment, Hammonds must first stop at Washington, D.C., and Fort Bliss, Texas, for two weeks. There, she will undergo nuclear, biological, and chemical training, and other exercises including low-crawling and learning how to sweep for mines.
"I've done this type of training before when I went to Kosovo. I remember I was low crawling, along with other people, and there was a 'sniper' shooting at us. When we finished the exercise he pointed to me and said, 'You would have been dead.' I just screamed and said, 'I'm too old," said a laughing Hammonds.
Very optimistic and dedicated to her occupation, Hammonds uses three words to explain why she would want to go to the chaotic aftermath of the war and put herself in harm's way: "It's my job."
"It's fun! It's fun for the troops when we go out there. We give birthday parties and loan out videos from our video library. We're out to improve morale," said the benevolent Hammonds.
Being married for 43 years and having a close family, Hammonds says that there are mixed feelings for her upcoming venture.
"My family is not very happy, but they are very supportive. They understand that this is my job.
"My 19-year-old grandson is not happy about her 61-year-old grandmother traveling all over the world in B.D.U. But my husband, being retired army, wishes it were he."
Hammonds will return from her deployment and be back at the Air Station July.