Ohio Military Families Prepare for Deployments Amid Iran-Israel Tensions
Columbus, Ohio – As tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, military families and reservists across Ohio are preparing for potential U.S. involvement and possible deployments. With uncertainty growing, the emotional toll is already being felt far from the battlefield.
In Central Ohio, Brian Galligher, a Navy veteran who served aboard nuclear submarines and at Guantanamo Bay, remains on standby as a reservist. Now 52 and director of the Delaware County Veterans Services Office, Galligher knows the call to serve could still come — and he’s ready.
“If I am deployed, I will do what’s asked,” Galligher said. “It’s not easy, but with my family’s support, it’s manageable.”
The potential for U.S. military action has intensified after President Trump cut short a G7 summit to discuss national security options with his advisors. Analysts suggest any U.S. involvement could target Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, which may draw the nation into a wider regional conflict.
In Worthington, Vietnam veteran John Karl Axthelm, 81, watches the news with concern. “We lost over 58,000 in Vietnam,” he said. “I would hate to see us dragged into another war.”
Evan Schumann, former Peace Corps volunteer and now Program Manager for Ohio Task Force One, fears domestic consequences. His team of nearly 200 first responders, typically deployed for natural disasters, may have to respond to threats at home — including chemical or biological attacks.
“There’s always the risk of retaliation on U.S. soil,” Schumann said.
Military families are also on high alert. Buckeye Military Moms, a Worthington-based support group, is familiar with the stress that comes with uncertainty. Member Diana Evans Vance, 70, whose son serves in the U.S. Coast Guard, said parents have had to learn to accept what they can’t control.
“When war breaks out, the Coast Guard joins the Navy,” she said. “We trust the system, but we’re still worried every day.”
Despite the fear, these families and veterans remain resilient — united by duty, honor, and the hope for peace.
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