MobilityTechzone

Latest News

TMCNet: Local Marine proud to serve

[September 05, 2010]

Local Marine proud to serve

Sep 05, 2010 (The Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A Bryan resident serving his second stint in the U.S. Marine Corps expects to be deployed to Afghanistan in October.

Lance Cpl. Gabriel Sanchez, a member of the Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, said he's focused on the mission.

The 32-year-old Bryan High School graduate has already served in Iraq for seven months and has also been stationed in Australia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Sanchez said he doesn't pay much attention to what's being reported on the war and only does what he's called to do.

"I know I'm going over there to do a job that I'm supposed to do and that's it," he said.

His deployment comes after President Barack Obama announced last week that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq had ended and efforts in Afghanistan would be escalated.

But even as responsibility for Iraq's security has been handed over to Iraqi forces, about 50,000 U.S. troops remain in the country.

Sanchez, who has been in the military for six years, joined at the age of 19 -- against the wishes of his parents, he said -- because he had always wanted to be a Marine.

"I wanted a challenge is pretty much what it boils down to, and it's been challenging," he said.

His first enlistment ended in 2000, and he spent the next eight years bouncing around in various jobs before deciding to go back. He missed the camaraderie of the Marine Corps, he said, and he's already thinking about re-enlisting when his commitment is up in 2012.

"Marines have something that most civilians don't have," he said, describing the bond that forms after going through intense hardships with one another.

Sanchez said he's in charge of keeping track of all the weapons in his company and making sure they are in working order.

Most of his time in Iraq was spent on patrols of the area, he said, and he hasn't seen combat.

"It's not really something you're really interested in. It's something you are called to do and you have to go do it," he said.

Sanchez is married and has four children under the age of 11. Being separated from his family takes its toll, he said.

"It's very stressful on both ends." Still, he said, even though he's not sure what to expect in Afghanistan, it's an honor to serve the country.

To see more of The Eagle or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.theeagle.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, The Eagle, Bryan, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).

[ Back To MobilityTechzone Homepage's Homepage ]
FOLLOW MobilityTechzone

Subscribe to MobilityTechzone eNews

MobilityTechzone eNews delivers the latest news impacting technology in the Wireless industry each week. Sign up to receive FREE breaking news today!
FREE eNewsletter
Interview with VPI Systems
TMC's Rich Tehrani speaks with Russ Green, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management for VPI Systems
Interview with Thrupoint
TMC's Paula Bernier speaks with David Jodoin, Chief Strategy Officer for Thrupoint
Interview with Nuance
TMC's Erik Linask speaks with Christy Clark Murfitt, Sr Manager of Solutions Mktg, Enterprise Division for Nuance
Interview with Abukai
TMC's Erik Linask speaks with Philipp Schloter, President & CEO of Abukai
Interview with DragonWave
TMC’s Stefanie Mosca speaks with Greg Friesen, VP, Product Management of DragonWave