A bittersweet holiday season for soldiers, families

Several family members of military troops who have already arrived or are scheduled to arrive for the holidays expressed mixed emotions, citing their happiness and joy at the arrival of loved ones, as well as poignant feelings due to the soldiers’ short-term stay.

“One can only approach it with mixed emotions, especially, they’re only here for a short period,” said Celina Babauta, whose husband Franklin serves as company commander for Echo Company. “I count my blessings that he’s able to come home for the holidays, and my children miss him a lot and it’s very obvious in our home. We are truly blessed that they’re able to come home…Some soldiers are not able to come home for the holidays, and we think of them in our prayers.”

She cited logistics as the most difficult part in having the boys home, “but in terms of emotions, nobody can prepare for it.”

Several reservists from Company E arrived yesterday and more will be arriving today to spend the next two weeks with family and friends before deployment to Iraq next year. Other active military troops have also arrived in the past weeks, and several are still expected to arrive for the holidays as well.

According to Deputy Special Assistant for Military and Veterans Affairs Ruth Coleman, six Marines who have just completed basic training arrived a couple of days ago and are assisting with recruitment.

“They’re here to help the Marine recruiter for local recruitment, and also for holiday vacation before go on to their next assignment,” she said yesterday.

Coleman said the Marines also helped in rendering military funeral honors for veteran Richard Klase yesterday.

Among those eagerly awaiting the arrival of Company E was Tanya F. Mesa, whose husband Sgt. Pete Mesa will be arriving for the holidays.

“We’re going to make the best of it,” she said. “Time will be valued and we will cherish our moments and not focus on material stuff. We’re going to think of now, and not of him leaving…it’s hard because he’ll be leaving after this trip to a place far away.”

The celebrations will certainly be cherished by Tony Benavente, whose brother-in-law, John Siren, is also a part of Company E.

“We miss him a lot, ever since he left for his training, everybody in the family misses him,” Benavente said. “We’re so happy that he’s coming and he’ll be spending some time with us during this holiday season…we’re so glad that he can be here to celebrate Christmas with us.”

Bill Macaranas, whose sons Leo Alupman and Roy Tasi both serve in the U.S. military, echoed similar feelings as he stood with wife Susana and family members holding a banner with pictures of both sons during Tuesday’s Troop Fest Wave along Beach Road San Jose.

“We’re out here to support our boys, not only our sons who are in the military, but for all U.S. troops that are trying to protect our liberty,” he said. “I’m very happy that a lot of relatives of troops are here to show support and as you can hear, we have people passing by honking their cars…that means they’re in support of our troops, and so that is keeping our hopes up.”

Holding back emotions, Macaranas said he and his family are very happy that Alupman would be home for the holidays but sad that Roy Tasi could not make it as he is currently serving in Iraq.

“If only both of them could come in,” he said. “Roy was deployed to Iraq about four months ago.”

Ten-year-old Sabrina Siren has reason enough to put a bright smile on her face as her father, Sgt. John Siren, was scheduled to arrive today.

“I miss my dad, and I’m happy that he’s coming for Christmas,” she said.

For her part, Bonnie Royal and family were also armed with poster boards and banners during the wave to support her husband, SPC. Kelby Royal, who arrived yesterday.

“I feel excited because my husband is coming [this morning] and the other troops are coming so we’re very excited and we’re here to support our troops,” she said. “It’s been hard, we really miss him, and with support from family and friends, it went pretty well and he calls everyday.”

The two have three kids, who Bonnie says are “still pretty young so they don’t really feel it, but my boy misses his father.”

Also, since last weekend, the Family Readiness Group placed yellow ribbons around the island for support.

“The yellow ribbon, since the first war in Iraq, has been a symbol of support for our troops, and it ties in with pulling everyone together to show support,” Deleon Guerrero said.

Company E was most recently training in Fort Bliss, Texas. After their Christmas leave, the reservists will move to Fort Polk in Louisiana, where they will undergo a simulated combat training that goes through war games crafted based on the standards of the U.S Army. The soldiers will start moving in February 2005 to Iraq, where they will stay for a maximum of one year.

The current policy of the Army is to limit the deployment tour of duty to 12 months, however, the timeline is subject to change anytime, depending on how the war in Iraq develops.

Meanwhile, military troops are in for a treat as various agencies and individuals have joined forces to host Troop Fest 2004, a fundraiser concert today from 4pm to 10pm at the American Memorial Park Amphitheatre.

The event, which would feature performances from various local artists as well as students, would be produced into a DVD and copies would be given to the troops.