Officer activated as he prepared to leave service
By Stacey Creasy
cnhi News Service
BOURBON � Since the age of 12, Ben McIntyre wanted to be a soldier and/or a police officer.
At 25, he has fulfilled both.
Ironically, just as he was winding down his career in the military, Ben's unit, Company C in Plymouth was activated.
Ben is now at Camp Atterbury in Central Indiana. The camp is one of 15 activation sites across the U.S. to train guardsmen for active duty.
Ben was born and raised in Bourbon. He joined the Army National Guard after graduating from Triton High School. He attended Purdue University to study criminal justice.
Six years in the National Guard taught him a great deal and helped him pay for the schooling that enabled him to become a full-time police officer with the Bourbon Police Department.
In July 2001, Ben married Shawna. Four months ago, the couple had their first child, a boy. With a wife and child at home, Ben gave a great deal of thought about his future with the National Guard. After six years, he decided not to re-enlist when his current tour of duty ends in April.
Five months before Ben's military career was to end, he was activated for the first time.
"We are concerned," said Ben's father, Todd McIntyre of Bourbon. �We are also very proud of him."
Todd said Ben was not angry about being called to active duty. He knows it comes with the territory.
"He is worried about being away from his wife and child. He spent a lot of time with his wife and the baby," Todd said. "He doesn't begrudge the Army or anything. Ben's ready to do what they need him to do."
Ben is one of about 100 soldiers from the Michiana area who report to the National Guard Armory in Plymouth. Ben called home Saturday night, but still had no idea where he is headed or what he will be doing.
Officials with the Indiana National Guard said the members of Company C will hook up with a light infantry brigade out of Jasper. They will spend the first couple weeks at Camp Atterbury taking care of personal "soldier issues" before they begin to train for the mission ahead.
Because Company C was activated under Noble Eagle (Homeland Security) and Enduring Freedom (Global War on Terrorism), members of the unit could be sent somewhere in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world.
Ben has been with the Bourbon Police Department for just over one year. He has been assured his job will be waiting on him when he returns. Bourbon Town Marshal John West said Ben is an asset to the department. West looks forward to having Ben rejoin the department when he returns from active duty.
In the Army, Ben is a specialist. One of his duties includes attaching weapons to Hummer vehicles. While he awaits his orders, his family will keep their fingers crossed, hoping he will not be gone for long.
"We're hoping he will be back sooner, not later," Todd said. "We have always been very proud of him."
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