Local Military Wives Have Mixed Feelings On Bin Laden's Death

As television reports showed crowds of Americans celebrating the news of Osama bin Laden's death, Bradenton's Cathryn Romero had a different reaction.

"I'm worried," Romero said.

That's because her husband, Joseph, is serving in Afghanistan with the United States Army.

"There could be some serious retaliations," Romero said Sunday night.

She already hadn't heard from her husband in six days. That's not too uncommon, although he usually calls home two or three times a week to talk to Romero and their three girls, ages 7, 6 and 4. But with Sunday night's stunning announcement from President Barack Obama about the Al-Qaeda leader's demise, Romero is uneasy.

"I heard all the bases there are on red alert," Romero said. "He could be away from his base."

Romero, 29, said her 27-year-old husband, born in Sarasota and raised in South Carolina, has about 65 days left in his deployment. He enlisted almost three years ago, leaving behind a career in construction because he always wanted to join the Army, Romero said.

She hasn't watched the news much in the year or so he's been gone — but Sunday night's TV coverage was an exception.

The dramatic announcement was welcome news to Bradenton’s Erin Bell, whose husband, Chris, serves on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, with the United States Navy.

"This will put many minds at ease," Bell said. “Even though our job is not done ... it is progress. Finally some justice for all the lives lost."

Bin Laden was killed in a firefight Sunday in a Pakistani village during a United States-led military operation, Obama announced. The U.S. is in possession of his body, and no Americans were harmed during the mission.

Bin Laden's death "marks the most significant achievement to date" in the United States' efforts to fight terrorism, Obama said. Bin Laden, who claimed to be behind the deadly attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was "responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children."