Aaron Landers

Aaron Landers is being deployed to Iraq. He has been a resident of Biggsville for 13 years. He is a 2006 graduate of West Central High School. After graduation he left for service in the United States Marines.

Now, on April 23rd, he is being sent to Iraq from California.

April 10th, he is returning to Biggsville for a short leave before deployment.

His family is having an Open House for Aaron at the Biggsville Community building Saturday, April 14th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. It is open to the public.

"We hope that everyone will mark their calendars and take time that day to stop in and see Aaron.
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On Sunday, April 15th, Aaron will be leaving to go to the airport and it would be great if community members from around the area could line the highways and let him know we care.

Before Aaron Landers of Biggsville, flew out of California for Iraq, his mom Debbie, was able to travel to California and witness his deployment and say good-bye.
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Aaron's address is:

LCPL LANDERS, AARON T.WPNS CO. (CAAT BLACK)UNIT 41575FPO AO 62426-1595
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Aaron, 19, is a 2006 West Central graduate serving in the U.S. Marine Corp and was deployed to Iraq on April 28th .

After West Central Heat Graduation, Landers Chooses The Marines

What makes an 18 year old teenager chose the military after high school graduation.

For one graduate, Aaron Landers of Biggsville, the United States Marines will give him adventure and travel, and a chance to get out of Henderson County.

"There are no jobs around here," Aaron said as he celebrated his graduation at the Gladstone community building last week.

"I will be able to buy at discount on base and I will receive 30 days paid vacation.Then in 20 years, I will be able to retire with full benefits while I work another job," he said.

Aaron has always been interested in joining the Marines, he said, and he has friends who has enlisted."Nick Johnson, a 2005 Union graduate of Biggsville," for example.

"I also received a promotion in rank right off," Aaron said, "for being an Eagle Scout."

Landers enlisted in the United States Marines last summer in the "Delayed Entry" program.

He has been meeting monthly with his recruiter learning what he needs to know for boot camp.For instance, the Marine Corps birthday."

In testing Aaron, he replied, "November 10, 1775."

He has also been learning military time, and "facing movements" to get some heads-up on what is in store for him at Camp Pendleton, in San Diego, California.

Aaron is to leave June 4th for the Marines.

His recruiter will pick him up and take him to Des Moines, Iowa for M.E.P.S. and after a night in the hotel the, he will fly out for his basic training.

Aaron, an athlete and an aggressive basketball player at West Central, says he is ready to meet the challenges in the military, figuring he will go to Iraq.But he sees the military more as an opportunity for travel, adventure, job security and college money.

Aaron spoke highly of his scout master Ray Shafer of Biggsville, who led him to be an Eagle Scout.
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Aaron asked.

"Iraq isn't that bad," Aaron said.
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Aaron said after he serves 4 years of college he is given $30,000 with the GI Bill for college.They take $100 out of your pay every month for it, he said.

After 13 weeks of boot camp, Aaron will return home on a 10 day break.He has been lifting weights 4 or 5 times a week and started running again this week.

Besides his parents Debbie and Shawn, Aaron has two sisters at home who will miss him.