Customs, like many other federal government agencies, employs individuals who serve in the military reserves. The events of September 11 not only affected people's lives in New York City and the Pentagon, but in Customs as well. We were all horrified by the events, but for 148 Customs employees, the events of 9/11 caused a major change in their lives: they were called to active duty. These employees are among the more than 50,000 military reservists mobilized to help in two U.S. military operations: Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.

Customs employees called to serve after September 11 attacks
Office	No. of Employees
Field Operations	108
Investigations	35
Internal Affairs	3
Strategic Trade	1
Finance	1
Total	148

When President Bush announced the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001, he described a commitment by the United States and its allies to dismantle the al Qaeda network and bring its terrorists to justice. In addition, the infrastructure and military installations of the Taliban regime, which gave al Qaeda a safe haven, were targeted.

Its goal to protect the homeland, Operation Noble Eagle included the partial mobilization of U.S. military reserves for combat air patrol over major U.S. cities and the enforcement of security at U.S. airports and seaports.

U.S. Customs Today contacted some of the 148 Customs employees who are serving or have served in Operation Noble Eagle or Enduring Freedom. Here's what these patriotic employees had to say about their military assignments:

Enduring Freedom reservists ... in their own words
Senior Inspector John S. Mikhail, San Francisco International Airport, Calif., stationed with the California Army National Guard in Egypt until August 2002: My work at Customs involves speaking Arabic with some travelers as they arrive in the United States, and it's improved my language proficiency. So, I wasn't surprised when I got the call to duty on November 8, 2001. I am a liaison between Israel and Egypt, and a linguist for the U.S. forces in Egypt. I've been in the military for 22 years, and it's my pleasure to serve my country. I miss my wife, my two children - Steven and Natasha - and my co-workers, and I appreciate everyone's support. I can't wait to see them again.

I miss my wife, my two children-Steven and Natasha-and my co-workers, and I appreciate everyone's support. I can't wait to see them again. - Senior Customs Inspector and Master Sergeant John S. Mikhail

International Trade Specialist David Gaddie, Strategic Trade Center, Dallas, Tex., stationed as Marine Liaison Officer to Civil Affairs in Kuwait: I was called for Desert Storm in 1991, and was glad to have been part of Operation Enduring Freedom. I was deployed from Marine Forces Pacific to Camp Doha in Kuwait on December 11, 2001, for three months of active duty. I served as a civil affairs planning officer to a joint/combined land operations command. I was part of a planning team for humanitarian assistance operations, working with Civil Affairs military personnel in Afghanistan and with international organizations, such as the Red Crescent and Doctors without Borders, to provide relief to refugees and displaced people in Afghanistan and bordering countries. The long hours, long-distance working relationships, and being away from home were a challenge.

Noble Eagle reservists ... in their own words
Senior Special Agent Armin Cate, Air & Marine Interdiction, SAIC Office, Maimi, Fla., stationed with the U.S. Coast Guard in Florida until September 2002: I was on active duty at the Naval War College in Rhode Island when the attacks occurred. I reported to my unit, the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, in Miami the following week. My unit is responsible for the safety and security of the ports in South Florida.

Because of my work with Customs, my Commanding Officer, Capt. James Watson, gave me the additional assignment of coordinating with federal and state agencies to help develop the role of homeland security. Using experience gained during overseas assignments in support of Customs initiatives such as the BASC program, I helped to conduct a port vulnerability assessment of the port of Miami and trained 250 National Guard soldiers who would be responsible for security of cruise passenger ships that transit through South Florida ports.

From this project, I started the Miami Port Intelligence Team-a team that included members of federal and state agencies who shared their expertise and intelligence on port security issues. An off shoot of this committee is Operation On Guard, a public outreach campaign to provide the general public, especially those who work all day on the waterfront, with a phone number to call in case they see suspicious activity at any of the South Florida ports. The campaign has been embraced by federal and state agencies, and now the all-weather metallic signs are being distributed statewide and possibly nationally as well.

I was surprised because my unit, "The Fighting 69th," had not been mobilized since World War II. - Senior Inspector Richard Acevedo

Senior Inspector Richard Acevedo, JFK Contraband Enforcement Team, N.Y., stationed with I-69th Infantry Regiment of the New York Army National Guard in N.Y. until September 2002: Just after the attacks happened, my unit called me to active duty. I reported to Ground Zero two hours after the buildings collapsed. I drove my pick-up truck with an Army medical officer and three combat medics with 300 pounds of medical gear. The medics administered care to the victims, police officers, and fire fighters. I spent the next four weeks at Ground Zero with my infantry battalion, the first military unit to respond to the disaster. We helped dig and collect bodies and body parts, an unpleasant memory that I will never forget.

On my last day of active duty, I was re-called. I was surprised because my unit, "The Fighting 69th," had not been mobilized since World War II.

Customs is grateful to all the Customs military reservists for all their hard work, their patriotic spirit, and for answering our country's call to duty.