Father and son reunited in Iraq (NICE STORY)

Marine Corps News ^ | Feb 26, 2006 | Lance Cpl. Stephen J. Holt

[SandRat]

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Feb. 26, 2006) -- For men and women in the U.S. military, good-byes are one of the hardest parts of deploying to foreign lands, as servicemembers must bid farewell to loved ones. However, for one father and his son, a deployment to Iraq didn’t mean good-bye, but rather a fortunate crossing of their paths.

For nearly a month, Chief Petty Officer Nestor A. Lazaga, 53, and his 22 year-old son, Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark G. Lazaga, have had the unique experience of spending time together in a combat zone while stationed together here.

The younger Lazaga, a hospital corpsman assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 39, Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 at Camp Taqaddum, is preparing to return to Camp Pendleton, Calif., after a seven-month deployment as his father begins his own seven months in Iraq.

During Mark’s deployment his job had him doing everything from the daily sick calls, to providing medical support on convoys and major construction projects in case any Marine was hurt while out on such missions.

Mark’s motivation to join the Navy and medical field is due in large part to his father.

The senior Lazaga is the leading chief petty officer of the medical aid station for Brigade Service Support Group-1, the headquarters element of the 1st Marine Logistics Group here.

“My dad has been a huge inspiration to me. I saw what opportunities the Navy offered my father and I wanted to capitalize on them as well,” said Mark.

Nestor’s influence didn’t stop there. He helped his son sort out how to best capitalize on the opportunities available in the Navy, and help figure out how Mark could best serve his nation.

“I’ve always been interested in the medical field. My father’s career as a medical professional in the Navy showed me there were opportunities in this field. I didn’t have any second thoughts,” Mark said.

For Nestor and Mark, their journeys in Iraq could not have been possible without support by the rest of the family back in the United States, especially Jackie, the woman at the center of their family.

“It’s not easy having to take care of two kids and worry about two men in Iraq,” said Mark. “We’re in the middle of a war, and (my mother, Jackie) has to work at the same time. She’s a great mother.”

Nestor couldn’t agree more with his son.

She is proud to support us, but it’s also painful, he said. My family is very proud of her because she has a strong heart and is so patient.

The deployment has not only given the family faith and strength, but has also been a bonding experience for the deployed members of the Lazaga family.

“Our relationship will be stronger because we’ve experienced the same thing. I love my son and (we) can relate to one another better,” said Nestor.

For Mark, the experience brought him closer to his father through a better understanding of his father’s previous deployments.

“As a child I never quite understood deployments, but now that I’ve been through what he’s (Nestor) been through I’ve been better able to relate to him and his past experiences,” said Mark.

As Mark’s deployment to Iraq nears an end, he plans on supporting his dad by taking on some of the responsibilities his father had shouldered back home.

“I’ll maintain the house and help my mom by driving my brother and sisters places,” Mark said. “I’ll pretty much be the man of the house while my dad is away.”

Although it will be hard for Nestor to remain in Iraq while his son goes home, one message remains clear.

“The mission is first, however I will miss my son,” Nestor said. “Having two family members in a deployment is hard to do, but we must do our mission.”

Although they will be separated by thousands of miles as one generation prepares to leave and another settles in, the Lazagas can take pride and solace in knowing their service has made their family stronger.

[SandRat]

Chief Petty Officer Nestor Lazaga, 53, and his son, Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Lazaga, 22, stand side by side at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq. The father and son were recently reunited in Iraq, however, their tours will only overlap by a month. Mark is preparing to return to Camp Pendleton, while Nestor has just arrived in country for a seven-month tour. During Mark’s deployment he did everything from conducting daily sick calls to corpsman coverage in convoys. Nestor will fill the role of leading chief petty officer of the medical aid station for Brigade Service Support Group 1, the headquarters element of the 1st Marine Logistics Group. The two feel they will become much closer to each other and communicate better because they will have both undergone a deployment and will be able to identify with each other.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Stephen J. Holt

[SandRat]

Nice!!! PING!!!

[new yorker 77]

They will only make news in the MSM if they die or crew up.

That's what the pretend to care crowd in the MSM has to offer these heroic warriors.

[new yorker 77]

They will only make news in the MSM if they die or screw up.

That's what the pretend to care crowd in the MSM has to offer these heroic warriors.

[SandRat]

What the alphabet Spews and the pretenders don't see though is that they are making these brave souls hate Liberals and LIBERALISM in all forms at a visceral level.

[Kimmers]

Great Story....thank you

[new yorker 77]

Your post should not anger me, but it does, because it is real and it is ignored for that very reason.

The troops are heroic warriors to us. They are DEAD FAILURES to the MSM.

[stumpy]

Semper Fi to the FMF Corpsmen, not your regular navy peckerchecker. Hoorah

[SandRat]

Sadly that is precisely what the Pocono Borst Circuit Red Diaper Doper Babies all think of the anyone in the military.

[SandRat]

Sounds as though you've stood your share of "short-arm" inspections.

[Bon mots]

Kewl story.
Great guys.

[stumpy]

Absolutely, but have enormous respect for FMF Corpsmen. Seen them to HEROIC things a time or two. Will defend the FMF Corpsmen at every oppertunity.

[SandRat]

Never knew a mud marine who wouldn't! Dumbest thing an outsider could do was pick on an FMF in front of his PLT brothers.

[stumpy]

Isn't that the truth. I've always wondered if the FMF's really understood how much they meant to those of us in the mud.

Once, on Okinawa we had to protect our corpsman from one of our own. We'd gotten this guy hammered for his 21st birthday, and when he went to the can he got himself caught in his zipper. The next day, he was too hungover (and still a little drunk), when he discovered his "zipperburn".

He screamed, thinking he'd caught a "social" disease, and the corpsman told him if he was "lucky", it might be ordinary syphilis. He said he'd get two weeks of pennicilun, then a dishonorable discharge for "moral turpitude".

Naturally, he panicked and showed up to sick call 30 minutes early. The Corpsman gave him a shot of sterile water in the cheeks and quietly chuckled to himself. When the guy showed up the next day, the corpsman was afraid to tell him it was a joke so gave him some more sterile water. This went on for two weeks till the guy's "zipper burn scab" fell off and he thought he was cured.

A few weeks later, somebody told him the truth, then we had to protect our corpsman. I thought it was a pretty good joke, and learned to be very careful with zippers.

Semper Fi

[SandRat]

Don't mess with the FMF he just might "forget" to sharpen the hypo-needle for your shot card update.

[Dustbunny]

Wow, that is so heart warming.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT