(Reuters) – At Fort Campbell in Kentucky, spouses of U.S. soldiers headed to Liberia seem to be lingering just a bit longer than usual after pre-deployment briefings, hungry for information about Ebola.
For these families, the virus is raising a different kind of anxiety than the one they have weathered during 13 years of ground war in Afghanistan and Iraq. They want to know how the military can keep soldiers safe from the epidemic, a new addition to the Army’s long list of threats.

“Ebola is a different problem set that the division hasn’t (faced) before,” said Major General Gary Volesky, who will soon head to Liberia along with soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division.
There are already more than 350 U.S. troops on the ground in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, including a handful from the 101st. That number is set to grow exponentially in the coming weeks as the military races to expand Liberia’s infrastructure so it can battle Ebola.
The military has already stood up a headquarters in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, and hopes to have a 25-bed field hospital up and running by the middle of this month. It also aims to quickly build up to 17 Ebola treatment units. (read more)

Father, we could never thank our military men and women enough for their courageous service and sacrifice to our country and its people.  Admitting our selfish flaws, today we lift up our voices to express gratefulness and honor to these military troops both from the past and present. Show us ways in our communities, churches, and families to thank and love them better.
Keep and protect these heroes and their families; keep our servicemen and women physically safe and in good health;  guard them from evil, be a Shield around them, and reflect grace upon them as the apple of Your eye.
Father, we are aware moms and dads, wives, husbands and their children are worried as their loved ones are re-deploying into a zone of terror and disease as a consequence of their commitment to duty. God of all comfort, please comfort their hearts, our hearts. Wrap Your infinite love around us like a warm quilt, and reinforce us to know that all can come to Your throne of grace any time, day or night, to pray for our soldier, Your soldier.
Father, please send Your angels around every one of our servicemen and women, and protect them with Your guiding hand upon them; Your strength within them; Your shield afore them; and Your love around them.
In Christ’s name, Amen