MEMBERS of the Wakem family in Gunnislake are anxiously watching the news as they have two members of the family who are currently in the marines in the Gulf, writes Ann Parsons.

James and Denise Wakem?s son Andrew, who is 19, is in 3 Commando ? normally based at Stonehouse ? and James? brother Nick is in 40 Commando ? normally based at Taunton.

James said Andrew had only been in the marines for 12 months, having passed out in February 2002. He was flown out to the Gulf in February this year.

The family last spoke to Andrew on the Thursday before the war started, when he was based at Camp Coyote in the Kuwait desert. He said he had met an old school friend from Gunnislake, Sam Slattery, and they had been together at one time. Sam had also only been in the marines ? 40 Commando ? for about 12 months.

A letter was received from Andrew last Friday, written five days into the war, when he was based Umm Qasr. It said they were sleeping in trenches for only an hour and a half at a time and there was bombing at night and the noise was ?horrific?.

James? brother Nick has been in the marines for around 20 years and was in the last Gulf war in 1991. He had just been promoted to sergeant major when he was flown out to be based on HMS Ocean in March. James thought Nick was probably in Basra at present.

They hoped the marines would be home as soon as possible, he added. Andrew has two sisters and Nick is the youngest of three brothers and a sister. It was a particularly hard time for James and Nick?s father as their mother had only died a year ago, James said.

l ANOTHER 19-year-old in the Gulf is Mathew Jeffery of Callington. Mathew has been in the Royal Navy for two years and is aboard HMS Ocean. His father Terry said Mathew had spent 18 months in total on the ship, having been deployed three times ? all in the Gulf. He sailed 12 weeks ago on the latest.

Terry said Mathew ?had reservations? about going to the Gulf, but was level-headed. ?He knew that once in the navy he could be involved in conflict. His morale is quite good,? he said.

Terry and wife Barbara are able to keep in touch with Mathew as there a an email facility aboard ship.

?He has our 100% support. We hope and pray every serviceman will come back safe and well,? Terry said.