>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

man with the answers: Staff Sgt. Johnny Barnes fields a call at the 3/116th recruiting office. Barnes, a Hermiston native who served in Iraq in 2004, joined the local unit’s recruiting team this spring. - The Observer/BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH

He’ll be working for the Third Battalion, 116th Armored Regiment, a unit with a vaunted history and a stand-up reputation. Respect is built-in.

The 3/116th, headquartered in La Grande, includes elements in Ontario, Baker City, Pendleton, Hermiston, The Dalles, Prineville, Redmond and Woodburn.

Its most recent overseas deployment was to Iraq, in 2004; tours during the Spanish-American War and World War II are also a part of the unit’s history.

“This is the heartland,” Barnes said. “For a lot of people around here, the Guard is a family tradition. It’s not rare for a father and son or daughter to be serving in the unit at the same time.”

Though Barnes is just starting out as a recruiter, he is by no means new to the military. The Hermiston native joined the Guard in 1998, not long after he graduated from Riverside High School.

He trained as a tanker at Fort Knox, Ky., then returned home to begin his life as a citizen-soldier.

He worked for several years at the Wal-Mart distribution center in Hermiston, at the same time rising through the Guard’s enlisted ranks. He put aside his civilian job more than once to deploy.

He mobilized for various forest fires, and helped with security for the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City. In 2004, he served with the unit in Iraq.

“We landed in Kuwait, then took the long road north to Kirkuk. Up there, we were a Quick Reaction Force,” Barnes said. He added that despite the hardships he enjoyed his stay in Iraq.

“It was miserable at times, but we kept so busy it didn’t matter. I liked looking at the different cultures, and I hope to go back,” he said.

When the tour ended, Barnes returned to work for Wal-Mart. Then he heard through a friend, Staff Sgt. Greg Cortaberra, that a full-time recruiting position was set to open in La Grande.

“Greg said he thought I’d be good at it, because I’m always coming up with leads,” he said.

Last January, Barnes applied. His paperwork is in, he has appeared before the board that makes final decisions, and is now awaiting final word that the job is his.

Since May, he has been working at the La Grande armory in the Guard Recruiting Assistant Program. He has stayed plenty busy, tracking down leads and helping recruits and potential recruits with paperwork and testing.

He also is an integral part of the local Recruit Sustainment Program, which is designed to show young people the basics of military life before they ever go to basic training.

The Observer/BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH

“I love working with the young kids and showing them the team-building exercises,” Barnes said.

Barnes said he has learned that a recruiter’s job entails much paperwork, and calls for patience at all times.

He said it is well to remember that each potential recruit is a unique human being. Life goals vary from person to person.

Besides a chance to serve the country, the Guard offers incentives including job training, employment assistance, and financial help with college.

People join for those reasons, and others, too, Barnes said.

“Some join because they want to go to college, some because they need job skills, and some because they just want to walk through the desert with a rifle,” he said.

To reach Barnes, call 963-7931 or 786-1459.