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Efforts of a Maryville couple to raise more than $40,000 to buy body armor for a group of Marine combat engineers about to deploy to the Middle East has garnered national attention as PBS's "The Newshour with Jim Lehrer" is planning to feature the pair in an upcoming television program.

The story, explained "Newshour" Producer Lee Koronvokis, is looking at the cost of the war — not just to the government, but to everyday people like Javier and Marian La Rosa who have taken it upon themselves to raise money for special armor for their son Lance Cpl. Alex La Rosa and his 11-person unit.

The "Newshour" camera crew and reporters are planning to meet up with the La Rosas on April 14 during a fund-raising event at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson in Maryville.

"We're interviewing a number of economists who have done studies, coming up with varying amounts on what the war (in Iraq) will cost," Koronvokis said. "All of them are looking at — in addition to congressional appropriations — they are looking at economic costs that are not necessarily paid by the government, but still should be factored in."

Koronvokis wasn't sure when the spot would air on PBS, but expected it to hit the screen within a few weeks after the April 14 event.

The La Rosas are working to get money for "Dragon Skin" body armor — made by California-based Pinnacle Armor — which is lighter and more durable than standard-issue Marine body armor. Their son Alex didn't want to take the armor if his men didn't have the same protection, and that got Javier La Rosa moving to raise enough money to buy enough for everyone in the unit. But at nearly $3,700 for a single piece of body armor, the total would be almost $42,000. And Javier only had a couple months to get it together before Alex's unit was sent overseas.

Because the order would be so large, Javier — who has also received an endorsement for his efforts from the Sevier County detachment of the Marine Corps League — has to put down half the money (about $21,000) during the week of April 16. The remainder would be due by June 29. Afterwards, he and his wife will be flying to California to pick up the vests and hand deliver the units to Alex and his fellow Marines, who will be training at a Marine base in 29 Palms, Calif.

Those aspects made the La Rosa story stick out, Koronovokis said.

"I think it's very interesting that you've got people like Mr. La Rosa doing their own fund raising," she said. "He's got the time deadline — I think it's very interesting that he's taking on the whole unit, not just his son."

The other "cost" of the war certainly includes the injuries to soldiers fighting overseas, she added.

"Definitely to be accounted in government expense are people who are wounded in the war," she said. "Because there are so many wounded compared to deaths in this war — I think there are 16 wounded for every person killed in this particular war."

Staffing donation tables

Javier La Rosa said he has received a great deal of support from local businesses, especially area Harley-Davidson dealerships that have given him the green light to hold fund-raisers in front of the businesses right up to his deadline.

In the first few weeks of his efforts, Javier has raised enough for one piece of "Dragon Skin," but there is still a long way to go. While donations on an individual basis have been strong, he said the lack of interest from "corporate America" is frustrating.

"I have called corporate America, trust me," he said, noting letters he has sent to Oprah, Montel Williams, Geraldo Rivera, Jesse James (of West Coast Coppers fame), and federal officials. "Nobody answered me, nobody.

"I don't care," he said. "I'll walk on glass if I have to — I'll walk on hot burning coals. I don't care.

"It's my son and his buddies, and I'll do the effort," he added. "But where are (these people)?"

Drawback discussion

Adding to his frustration is the congressional focus on setting a troop drawback timetable instead of making sure personnel on the ground have the best equipment available.

"They're concentrating on, you know, we're going to pull out in '08," he said. "Yeah, but until '08 our troops are going to continue dying.

"And you and I know that (the withdrawal) may not even happen."

Even if everything goes as proposed and troops start coming home in 2008, the U.S. military probably won't be totally out for several years past that, he said.

"The Iraqis are going to say, 'Oh, well, since you're leaving us, we won't shoot at you any more,'" Javier said sarcastically. "'Here's the location of all the IEDs (improvised explosive devices), so be careful where you step.' No, it's not going to happen (like that)."

Koronovokis said PBS is still in the planning stages of making a trip to Maryville, but it is fairly certain that April 14 will be the day. "(The La Rosas) would kind of be the heart of the piece, so I think it will be pretty definite," she said.

And Javier stressed how important this cause is, and how the troops' efforts overseas impact everyone stateside.

"We all are able to do what we do every single day because our troops are over there dying or enduring sacrifices," he said. "(We need to) contribute to their well-being — if you cannot get them home, at least give them a chance to come back alive."