Families Cry as Volunteers Fly to Gulf War Support Duty : Port Hueneme: The 51 Channel Islands Air National Guard members leave for England as part of the base’s largest deployment in 29 years.

After tearful goodbys, 51 volunteers from the Channel Islands Air National Guard base left for England on Thursday to support the allied forces participating in Operation Desert Storm.

Shortly after the departure of the flight-crew members and aircraft mechanics from Port Hueneme, officials were informed by Guard headquarters in Washington that 51 medical specialists, including members of a tactical hospital at the base, have been placed on active duty. Some could leave as soon as Saturday, said Maj. Michael Ritz, base spokesman.

Forty more volunteer flight-crew members and aircraft mechanics are scheduled to join the other Guard members in England in two weeks.

As the war in the gulf continues, many more of the 1,400 Channel Islands Guard members could be sent to Europe and Saudi Arabia, Ritz said, to perform various duties--all part of the base’s largest deployment since the Berlin Wall went up 29 years ago.

Under a sun-drenched sky, families of the reservists who left Thursday gathered shortly before 10 a.m. at the base to bid their loved ones farewell. Although there is a chance that the reservists could be sent to Saudi Arabia, for now they will be based at Mildenhall Air Base near Cambridge, transporting military supplies, equipment and personnel across Europe and possibly to the Middle East.

Gary Honings of Palmdale said he was proud to volunteer for the mission. He trained for 10 years to learn how to carefully balance the heavy load on cargo planes. And now, he said, he can put the knowledge to work “for real.”

But his departure came with great personal sacrifice--he is leaving behind his wife Carolyn and two sons, ages 5 and 7.

As Honings walked onto the Tarmac, his 7-year-old son Justin clung to him and wept.

“He idolizes his dad,” said Gary Honings’ brother, Chris. “They’re really close. Justin is scared his dad is going to be away for a long time and he might not be coming back.

“I tell him that his father is just going on a vacation, and he’ll be back soon. But when it comes down to it, Justin knows he might be going to Saudi Arabia.”

Christine Hernandez clutched her 3-year-old-daughter in one arm and waved goodby to her husband, Bob, with the other.

“I’m proud of him,” Hernandez said. “He’s doing this because it’s his duty and because he’s an American. I’ve told my daughter that dad is going to help America so she can always be free.”

Although the volunteers’ mission is expected to last 32 days, they could be on duty for up to two years if they are activated.

Before the crew left, they were briefed on security measures. All have been issued chemical weapons gear in case they are sent to the gulf.

Mission supervisor Doug Broadhurst said he is proud of the people who volunteered.

“We had 51 people stand up and say, ‘I’ll go,’ ” he said. “That shows a lot of integrity.

“We’ve trained for this,” he said. “Now is the time our country needs us, and we’re going to go over there and do our job.”

In November, 95 volunteers from the base were sent to Germany to perform similar support missions. Egypt was the closest that they got to Saudi Arabia. The group returned to Port Hueneme Dec. 17.

Robert Steinbacher, a Simi Valley resident who participated in the mission in Germany, was among the volunteers who left Thursday for England. He said he’s prepared to serve as long as he’s needed.

“I want to serve my country,” said Steinbacher, a flight navigator. “It’s my duty.”