A Town’s Sacrifice for the Mission Is a Goodly Share of Its Population : Mobilization: Marines from Twentynine Palms, bound for Somalia, get a ‘Rudolph’ send-off.

For all the talk of Camp Pendleton Marines being dispatched to Somalia, the townsfolk here know it is this military community that is giving itself up for a humanitarian mission--and will itself become a desert ghost town in short order.

On Wednesday, the first of 5,000 Marines destined for the Horn of Africa--virtually half of the base population--left here, to the tears of loved ones and the strains of a Marine Corps band that added “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to its cold-morning send-off of traditional military march songs.

Christmas was celebrated early for some. On the eve of his departure, Navy Lt. David Walker, a chaplain assigned to this Marine base, received his Christmas gift: a can of mosquito repellent. Also stuffed inside his duffel bag by his wife, Susan, and their two small children were letters, Christmas cards and a stocking stuffed with a marshmallow Santa and a handful of hard candy.

Then, Wednesday morning, he drove his children to school and kissed his wife goodby on a parade ground that has become the departure point for thousands of Marines. Afterward Susan Walker attended a Bible study group for support and comfort.

“God sent his son on Earth to help, and now we’re being sent to another country to help,” she said. “We’re not going to solve all of Somalia’s problems, but we can help, and that will make a difference.”

David Walker was aboard the first bus to leave here for March Air Force Base near Riverside and a 33-hour trip to Somalia. Later Wednesday, seven more buses carrying 173 more troops drove through the center of town, to the waves and banners of families and other supporters who clustered along the two main streets.

With the deejay at the local radio station broadcasting a play-by-play of the caravan’s movements two miles through town, knots of spectators gathered by the roadside, holding white balloons emblazoned with American flags.

Sporting Santa hats, beauticians from a salon took a break from applying acrylic nails to step outside and greet the passing troops. And at the U-Haul yard, the owner set up a public address system to play patriotic songs. The Marines waved back to well-wishers.

As many as 1,000 more troops are expected to leave from here Friday, and within 30 days the base will be half emptied of its troops, sending even more Marines to Africa than is Camp Pendleton.

At Pendleton on Wednesday, 320 Marines also boarded buses headed for March Air Force Base and the flight to Somalia, where they will set up the supply system and services for thousands of troops to follow.

“These folks will form the nucleus for all the logistics operations,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ernie Carter. They will make provisions for purifying water, generating electricity and allowing a smooth supply of food for Operation Restore Hope.

Tears were mixed with smiles as Marines in Oceanside kissed their spouses through a chain link fence. “It was a hard day for the families, but they were upbeat about going on a humanitarian mission,” said Lt. Kevin Bentley.

Unlike the last time the Marines left Twentynine Palms en masse , at least this time the town could say goodby cheerfully. “This is a lot different than for Desert Storm,” the Gulf War mission, said Karen VandenHout, executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce. “Back then, we were all in a state of shock. We were in denial, even as the buses were driving out of town. There was a sense of panic, watching tanks pass you on the highway.

“There’s a much different feeling this time,” she said. “They’re not really going into a war zone, and there’s not the level of concern.”

The Twentynine Palms Marines are part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit headquartered at Camp Pendleton. They are stationed at the Marine Corps Air Combat Center, the desert warfare training center through which 50,000 Marines pass annually.

The Marines leaving Wednesday said they are excited about their assignment--even though it means leaving home for Christmas.

“We wouldn’t be Marines if we weren’t excited,” said Lt. R. C. Berkholz, 25, who will help coordinate logistics in Somalia. “My only anxiety is being gone for a long time, but this is a great Christmas present for Somalis. ‘Tis the season, and all that.”

The spirit was catching at Camp Pendleton. Of the deployment of her husband, 33-year-old Andrea Schneider said, “I feel what he’s doing now is more meaningful than any number of gifts left under a Christmas tree would be.”

Social service agencies were gearing up to ease holiday season need and loneliness. The Armed Services YMCA in Oceanside is collecting donations of Christmas gifts for the troops and their children, said associate executive director Karina Kingman.

For troops, the best gifts are small items, such as Frisbees, small board games and suntan lotion, she said. For the children left behind, unwrapped toys and sports equipment are being sought.

“We’re desperate,” she said, noting that the organization’s United Way allocation was cut by 25%. “It’s been a really tough past few months, and all of a sudden the guys are deployed over to Somalia.”

Times staff writers Ray Tessler and Lee Romney at Camp Pendleton contributed to this report.