State rep going back into U.S. Marine Reserves

JERSEYVILLE — State Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, has re-enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, he told The Telegraph Friday morning.

“Last month, I made the decision to re-enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves,” Watson said at a Friday morning press conference in his Jerseyville field office. “My constituents can be assured that I will continue to serve them and that their views will be represented in Springfield.”

Watson, 41, re-enlisted in May as an E-6 staff sergeant., USMC Reserves, attached to the Civil Affairs Group at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Watson has already begun attending drills one weekend a month.

Watson was a member of the United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserves from 1985-1991. He served in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm from 1990-1991.

“My old unit is currently serving its third tour-of-duty. There is a general sense of duty that does not end when you take the uniform off. For some time now I have felt the call to again serve my country,” he said.

“And I do feel I have the skills that can help,” he said. “I have served in a war zone before, I have legislative experience, so I believe I have a lot to offer in the Civil Affairs Group.”

Watson said the Civil Affairs Group basically helps keep the government informed. He said he believes an informed government is the way to win Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as the war on terror.

“We certainly can’t leave until it’s a stable situation,” he said.

He said another reason he chose to re-enlist was his concern for future generations.

“Look at the legacy we are leaving to our kids,” he said. “Whether at the federal or state level, just look: Social Security is a mess; our pensions are a mess; and state debt is a mess; and the situation over there is a mess.

“The last thing we need to do is leave this mess to the next generation, telling them to do what we could not,” he said.

Watson said he does not know when he could be deployed to Iraq, but he guessed it probably would not be before Gen. David Petraeus returns in September to give the president and Congress his report.

“I would assume that the general’s report will basically dictate our next action,” Watson said.

Attending Watson’s news conference were Jerseyville residents and veterans Larry Berry, Marine Reserves; Ron Short, Marine; Carl Bradshaw, Marine; and Floyd Alexander, of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and Jersey County’s Republican Party chairman.

“I just want to say that I think it is very honorable of Jim to be doing this,” Alexander said. “You are stepping up to the plate when a lot of politicians won’t. They’ll start a war, then they’ll hide. So, I just want to thank you for what you are doing.”