For most parents
it is hard for them to permit their son to join the military especially
if he is the only begotten son. It is even harder for the father if
he himself strongly opposes war since the Vietnam era.
This was the first
reaction of his father when Marine Cpl. Louie Fabicon asked permission
to join the Marine Corps just after high school graduation in June
2000. It was tough for Ishmael and Ellen to let go of their boy who
might be thinking that going to war is just like playing Nintendo
war games. They finally let their son go after realizing they have
good reason to be proud of having a son born to be a hero. Children
are all born to play games but when a child wants to play real war
then that child is born to be a hero.
It was not a relief
sending their son away especially when Louie injured himself during
Boot Camp Training in San Diego, California. Despite the injury the
new recruit completed the five months rigorous military drills in
Boot Camp. The young Marine went to the Military Operation Specialists
(MOS) School at Camp Legion in North Carolina after which, he was
sent to Okinawa in August 2001.
The parents'
fears soared when the US threatened to attack Afghanistan to dismantle
the terrorist cells of Al-Qaeda. Fortunately for Louie and his anxious
parents he was never called for duty to the Afghanistan War. In August
2002, CLP Fabicon joined the Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS 273)
stationed in Beaufort, N.C. Later he was assigned to MWSS 272 stationed
at Cherryport, N.C. at the time the US had threatened to attack Iraq
if Saddam fails to surrender the weapons of mass destruction. Operation
Shock and Awe was launched on March 21, 2003 and it was shocking to
Louie's parents to learn that their son was on his way to Al Jabba
Airbase, Kuwait.
The Iraq War is
over and good for Louie the game of real war is over for him even
though American soldiers are still being ambushed by the loyal supporters
of Saddam. Louie spent a week vacation with the family in Elmhurst,
Illinois. A welcome home party was thrown in his honor on July 5 but
his father was thousands of miles away to embrace him. Friends and
relatives were very happy that he came back alive and kicking. He
left home again to report to homebase in Beaufort, North Carolina.
He is planning to go to college to take up a business course.
Addendum: Cpl Fabicon turned 21 on the second anniversary of the
Nine Eleven tragedy. The treacherous attack on America on his birthday
two years ago sparked the idealistic spirit of this young man to render
service to his country. The memories of that fateful day gave him
the sublime inspiration to be a hero.
Nota Bene: For more of Louie's war experiences, please read his letter
published in the March
2003 and April 2003
issues of Sanrokan Newsmagazine.
