Time to say goodbye . . . again

Article Photos

Story and photos by staff writer, CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS

KAHULUI - Saying goodbye a second time isn't any easier, especially when a loved one is a member of a Hawaii Army National Guard unit being deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Twenty-one Maui guardsmen said their goodbyes to family and friends Wednesday morning at Kahului Airport. They left Maui to join about 50 other Hawaii guardsmen for deployment overseas.

About half of the Maui soldiers in the Alpha Company, 29th Brigade Support Battalion, are on their second tours to Kuwait and Iraq since 2004.

"For me, I just expected whatever comes, I've got to go," said Sgt. 1st Class Ron Asuncion, who led the Maui soldiers Wednesday on a chartered flight out of Maui. Their flight was to stop on Oahu to pick up more equipment and fellow soldiers before taking the troops to Texas for training.

"The second time is much harder for me," said Asuncion's wife, Nora. She had served as one of the lead wives in organizing a support group of family and friends when the Maui Guard members were deployed in 2004.

On Wednesday, Asuncion assumed the same supportive role she took on two years ago, relaying information to the families of the soldiers, giving a reassuring hug when some distressed family member appeared to need it.

"It's too soon to go back," she said.

The Asuncions' son, RJ Jr., 15, and daughter, Kiana, 14, were in tears as their dad embraced them before boarding a bus to take him and his fellow soldiers to their chartered plane.

"They don't want to talk about it," Nora Asuncion said.

Understanding the difficulties the Guard families will face in the year of deployment, she pledged to help through a new Family Support Group. She can be reached at 357-0671.

Dana Duque, girlfriend of Sgt. Roy Galo of Kihei, was overcome with emotion as she said goodbye for the second time.

Since his return from his 2005-05 deployment, Galo and Duque have had an addition to their family, Daylen, who will turn a year old on Aug. 29.

"It's harder now since we have a daughter. I have to be a single parent," Duque said.

"It's always hard leaving home," said Spc. Romeo Galo, Roy's brother, who is also taking a second tour with the Guard to the Middle East. The Galos' cousin, Spc. Jason Ramos, also of Kihei, will serve his second tour of duty in the Guard with them.

"It's not that hard leaving again," Ramos said, attempting to comfort the Galo brothers.

They were among 2,000 Hawaii guardsmen who shipped out in August 2004, with most returning home to overjoyed families in January 2006.

Two young Guard specialists facing their first deployment expressed their mixed feelings. Abigail Manegdeg, 22, and Kristalyn Daquep, 20, both of Kahului, sat side by side outside the Kahului Airport commuter terminal where the Guard unit prepared for its return to active duty.

"I'm excited," Manegdeg said as she relaxed and listened to music on an iPod. "I hope to become an officer one day, and I just want to take everything in and learn."

Daquep also looked forward to the tour, but with some nervousness.

"We just don't know what to expect," she said.

"We'll be home again soon," Manegdeg said.

"I can't wait to get back home," Daquep added.

Pvt. Jemmy Domingo of Kahului had his fingernails trimmed by girlfriend Glaisa Felipe, while the two waited for his departure. It is also his first deployment.

"I want to go. I'm willing to go," Domingo said.

The couple have not been separated during the last six years except for Domingo's four months of training in the Guard. Felipe said she would miss him.

"Not knowing what's going on, she doesn't know if it's safe. It's hard," Domingo explained.

The two spent the last 24 hours together with friends and family. Felipe cooked up Domingo's favorites, Filipino foods like adobo and pansit.

"We went to the beach, partied with friends and just hung out," Domingo said.

Pvt. 1st Class Michael Ravida, 19, of Kahului, is taking leave from his job in the Sports Authority warehouse to fulfill his commitment to the Guard.

"I never thought it would be this soon," said Ravida, who only enlisted a year or two ago. "I just want to get it over with. Do your duty and then come back home."

Ravida's mother, Maria, said she was proud of her oldest son and his determination to serve his country. She raised Michael and continues to support his three younger brothers, 17, 15, and 5, on her own.

"I'm not worried. I'm not scared," Maria Ravida said. "I'm just giving it all to God. If you have a lot of faith in your heart, God will take care of you. That's what I tell my son."

The soldiers leaving on Wednesday received words of encouragement from other members in the Guard. Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Cabanilla, a member of Hawaii National Guard's 411th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy), was among the first to be activated in 2004 from Maui.

Cabanilla is now assigned to a different unit and thus is not being deployed on this second Hawaii Guard activation. Cabanilla shook hands with the Guard members as they boarded their bus.

"It's really hard for me. I don't how to put it," Cabanilla said. "I'm really good friends with some of these guys. I see them as my brothers and sisters."

The Hawaii guardsmen will spend the next two months training at Fort Hood, Texas, before moving to a base in Kuwait. The Maui soldiers are a part of a contingent of approximately 1,700 soldiers in the U.S. Army Reserve and Hawaii National Guard.

The guardsmen will provide force protection, or security, at several installations in Kuwait, while others will be stationed at the Camp Command Cell. Other units will serve as the security force for units convoying north to Iraq.

* Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.