Navy Husband Becomes Mr. Mom
COLLINS: Now to the possible military strike against Iraq. If it does come to a ground war, many U.S. troops could be put in harm's way. But few will see as much danger as the men and women in next story. They are part of the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion. That means they could be sent behind enemy lines. So when they say good-bye to their friends and family, they do so knowing it could be for the last time. Lynn Harrison of affiliate WFB has our Standout Report.</s>LYNN HARRISON, WFB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are our neighbors, the guys who sit next to us at work.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the day that the Lord has made, and this is the day that you have trained for a long time.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless America</s>HARRISON: if troops are airdropped behind enemy lines, it will be these guys who in go in first. Their mission is to hide and transmit vital information to incoming troops.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The soldiers standing on the field, thank you for answering the call. As so many National Guard soldiers have done in the last -- over the past 200 years.</s>HARRISON: Among the hundreds of family members, there is pride, and overwhelming sadness. A father who can't bear to let his son go. Willis Fuller, who needs longer arms to encircle his girls. Is that for him?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, Lord, just bring him home.</s>WILLIS FULLER, 221ST MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION: You know, just leaving my family, you know, but, good thing I understood that they're going to be all right.</s>HARRISON: Clayton County firefighter, Lee Roberts hug his daughter and mother. He then has a man-to-man talk with his son. His wife keeps a stiff upper lip.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. We are all going to be OK and we're going to make it through this. Good guys are going to win.</s>COLLINS: As you've seen in some of the video of U.S. soldiers shipping off to possible combat, a lot of the faces are women. And this causes role reversals in many homes. While mom is off serving her country, dad becomes Mr. Mom. In our "In-Depth" report, Austin Jenkins from King Five introduces us to one such family from the Seattle area.</s>BRAIN STANKIS, NAVY DAD: Come on. Let's go.</s>TRAVIS STANKIS, NAVY SON: Hugs-hug.</s>AUSTIN JENKINS, KING 5 CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Brian, it's a daily routine, pick up sons TJ And Travis at day care, then head for home. To the house they share with Brian's wife's parents.</s>STANKIS: Hey.</s>JENKINS: Dinner is a joint effort.</s>STANKIS: Having one of your favorites. Mac & cheese.</s>JENKINS: Such is life for this unique navy family. While Brian who is also in the navy plays Mr. Mom mom --</s>PENNI MAHON, NAVY GRANDMOTHER: He's a chief. And he's a good one.</s>JENKINS: Wife, Susan is thousands of miles away serving board the USS Abraham Lincoln. She was supposed to return this week but now re-deployed to the Persian Gulf.</s>STANKIS: Obviously, we are disappointed. But we will do what it takes. You know, we've been doing OK you know. Of course, it would be a lot better if she were here. But you know, we'll make-do and we'll keep on going and we'll just count the days until she finally does come home, right boys?</s>JENKINS: A map in the kitchen helps the boys track where in the world mom is, but still it's not easy. Five-year-old Travis misses his mom's hugs.</s>TRAVIS STANKIS, SON: I don't do that very much with mom, because she's not here very many times.</s>T.J. STANKIS, SON: I knew she was going to be delayed but I didn't know she would be delayed till February some time.</s>JENKINS: But the family persevered trying to make sure the kids have fun in a time of uncertainty.</s>MAHON: Oh, it's great fun. Oh, yes. We have movie nights, we have pizza nights. We take the kids here and there.</s>JENKINS: And at least once a week a special treat, a phone call with mom.</s>STANKIS: Here's</s>TJ. JENKINS: Moments the boys and their dad savor as mom serves her country. Austin Jenkins, King 5 News.</s>COLLINS: You can stay updated on U.S. troop deployments with our Web site, in a special section dedicated to the military build-up in the Gulf. You will find interactive maps and the details on the units that have been called up. All that and more at cnn.com, AOL keyword, CNN.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shortly after 9/11, it became obvious that this technology may do other things.</s>ANNOUNCER: A device so powerful, it can capture and destroy the anthrax and smallpox viruses and it could work right in your home. Details coming up on AMERICAN STORIES.