High desert marine base community braces for US-Iran conflict impacts

With much of the community in Twentynine Palms centered around the marine base there, it is not yet clear whether any marines are being deployed locally to respond to the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict. But people who live there say they expect to feel impacts either way.

"Nobody wants to go to war, like nobody wants that but when other countries are threatening your country, I feel like you need to take action," said Kristina Burdett. She's had a Twentynine Palms-based military family her entire life.

Burdett said the community there is tight-knit with a shared understanding.

"When that stuff does happen, you can feel it in the community," she said. "We all kind of come together a little bit more."

And while the prospects of going to war frighten her, it's nothing she hasn't seen before.

"Every time you see those white buses go on and off the base, it affects you," Burdett said. "That's somebody's family that's leaving,"

It isn't her own family she fears for, but rather her brothers and sisters in uniform.

"It's scary, like I know (my kids') dad won't be going anywhere, but I have friends that still might, or they're out but they want to go into reserves — re-enlist just for this reason," Burdett said.

She said no matter what the tensions come to, she is proud to support those who defend our country.

"I'd like to think we're all there for our troops, regardless of what our beliefs or opinions are," Burdett said. "I know I am 100 percent for our troops."

We reached out to officials at the Twentynine Palms marine base, but have not heard back whether anyone there is being deployed.

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