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Public Employee Press
Families proud and prayerful
Loved ones in the combat zone
Strong emotions govern the feelings of the union
parents of sons and daughters serving in Iraq, as they await the soldiers
safe return.
War In Iraq
Soldiers in Iraq face death daily, but their families at home share the
pain and pride of war. PEP interviewed four Local 1070 families whose
sons and daughters are in the combat zone or have recently returned.
Hawa Barkon is a Secretary at the Dept. of Probation and the proud mother
of Jukue Sieh, 25, a tank specialist. The 25-year-old shipped out of Ft.
Hood, Texas with the 4th Infantry Division in April 2003 and returned
on New Years Eve. In his first letter home, he wrote that
he had lost a lot of weight and that things were very difficult for his
battalion, said his mother, a member of Court, County and Dept.
of Probation Employees Local 1070.
Angelef Holguin is a Senior Interpreter at the Bronx Criminal Court and
the mother of three daughters. Daughter Jessica Sgt. Holguin
has been serving in Iraq since January 2003 as part of a Command Post
Communications Unit.
Jessicas daughter Jessica Jr., as her grandmother calls her
is now living with grandma. In the beginning, she was very
sad. I tell her: Youre the daughter of a soldier, said Ms.
Holguin. Shes very proud of her mother. Jessica gave an oral
report in school about her mother as part of a program for the children
of soldiers serving in Iraq.
Thankful mother
Baccus Jaddah, U.S. Marine Corps, is the son of James and Local 1070s
Catherine Jaddah. Cpl. Jaddah, a logistics planner, went to Iraq in February
2003 and returned to the U.S. in July. As a mother, Im so
proud of him and thankful that he returned home safely, said Mrs.
Jaddah. He doesnt say much about the war. He doesnt
want to talk about it.
Rick Sabatino, a Court Aide at Kings County Court, is the father of Col.
Ralph Sabatino. Col. Sabatino, a member of JAG the Judge Advocate
Generals staff, has been serving in Iraq since March 2003.
He was the first in his Army Reserve unit to be called up,
explained his father. Before he was called to active duty, Col. Sabatino
served as the head of a Corporation Council office on Staten Island. Now,
the senior Sabatino writes to his son every week. He hasnt
written back in four weeks, said Mr. Sabatino. Hes so
busy, traveling all around Iraq.
While the national debate about the war continues, the parents of these
soldiers do not want to take public positions in that discussion. Their
thoughts as photos of fallen soldiers flash across the television
screen and the casualties mount are with their loved ones. Sgt.
Holguin is due to return home in February and Col. Sabatino is due in
March. His time is supposed to be up then, said Mr. Sabatino.
We pray for him every day. Theres nothing else we can do.
Jane LaTour
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