The Foreign Service Journal, March 2004

M A R C H 2 0 0 4 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 61 an Army Counterintelligence Special Agent in the Maryland Army National Guard. My daughter, Helga Vanessa Cardona-Perez, joined the Marines straight out of high school, completing basic training and combat training before completing intelligence specialist training. Her intelligence class was accelerated to graduate three weeks early so they could be shipped out to Kuwait with the 1st Marine Expe- ditionary Force. Once there, she volunteered to go into Iraq with the 1st MEF invading force of Operation Iraqi Freedom. When the war began, I could not stand watching the war on MSNBC from home while my daughter was in harm’s way. So I looked for employment in Kuwait to be near her, and was fortunate to find an opportunity as a con- tractor with ITT Systems, serving with the 11th Signal Brigade at Camp Doha. At that time, Vanessa was sta- tioned with the 1st MEF at Camp Commando, also in Kuwait. As a result, on April 28, 2003, my daughter and I were able to get together for a few precious hours to celebrate her 19th birthday (see photo, p. 60). I thank the Marines for adequately training my daughter so that she could return from Iraq in one piece. I also can’t thank enough her chain of command for taking her to Camp Doha to visit with me on her first birthday away from home. I also want to mention that my son Ivan is an Army medic stationed at Ft. Drumm, N.Y., and will be going to Kandahar this year. And my brother Victor, a sergeant first class, is an explosives ordinance disposal expert now serving in Afghanistan. I never pressured, or even encouraged, my children or my younger brother to follow in my footsteps. But I am honored and extremely proud of their decision to serve our country. By the way, my daughter, now a lance corporal, is returning to Iraq later this year for a second tour of com- bat duty. — Herminio F. Cardona Cape Coral, Fla. F O C U S SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2004 represents our 34 th year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com