Army Reserve major called to duty

This story was published Fri, Oct 5, 2001

Mary Hopkin
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - Debbie Pellissier is accustomed to living for a few months on her own while her husband, Lt. Col. Fred Pellissier, Umatilla Chemical Depot commander, is sent off on assignment for the Army.

But now the tables have turned.

Debbie Pellissier, a major in the Army Reserve, left Monday for U.S. Central Command Headquarters at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. She is a military police officer.

Fred Pellissier said his wife received her orders a week ago, and the family started making preparations. His position as depot commander makes it impossible to take on the duties of a single father, so the couple's three small children - Olivia, 3, Martin, 4, and Matthew, 7 - will be staying with family relatives.

The commander's parents live in Warrenton, Ore., and he has a sister living in Seaside, Ore.

"It's going to be hard on her because what she wants most is to be with her family," said Fred Pellissier said. "But she also knows it's time to serve her country."

Debbie Pellissier was on active duty in the Army for 10 years. She earned a Bronze Star after serving as a commander in the Gulf War in charge of Iraqi prisoners. She has spent the past nine years in the Army Reserve and was on active duty last year, also at McDill.

Fred Pellissier said his wife could be gone up to a year and may be sent to Southwest Asia.

 

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