thedrifter
04-27-06, 11:23 AM
April 27, 2006
santa cruz
Families await safe return of troops
By Soraya Gutierrez
Sentinel Staff Writer
Cristina Baca Lazo, 45, keeps a close eye on the death toll in Iraq because it's not just a number, but a part of her life as the mother of a Marine.
Talking about the situation her son signed up for makes her cry with worry.
But Lazo, an assistant nurse who immigrated to Soquel from Nicaragua in 1988, makes a quick recovery to express her opinions on the conflict in the Middle East.
The realities of war are felt by families in Santa Cruz County and around the world, both for and against it. As the price of oil is climbs to all-time highs, the president's approval rating is falls to all-time lows.
In Santa Cruz County, some people have expressed their anger by vandalizing SUVs with the words "Oil equals blood," and forcing military recruiters off the university's campus during a recent job fair.
There have been 2,600 coalition deaths as of April 25, including 2,391 Americans. At least 17,648 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.
From Lazo's point of view, the ideal thing would be to bring the troops back so they could be home with their families.
For her son, Santa Cruz High graduate Lance Cpl. Irwing Nunez Lazo, 22, that family includes his 2-year-old boy, Marquis.
"But we don't really know what the situation is in Iraq," she said in Spanish from her Soquel home. "Of course it would be great for them to return, but that decision is not in the hands of civilians."
Having children in harm's way is not something civilian parents can relate to, says Steve Matson of Capitola.
"... It is war, and our sons and daughters are battling every day," he said.
His two sons were born and raised in Santa Cruz and are Marines. For him, it's difficult to relate his feelings to the "ordinary folk" around here, he said.
"I don't know if that's good or bad," he said, "But it puts a different perspective on the comforts and activities we take for granted as Americans."
His son Nick, 22, is an infantry rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Their battle space between Fallujah and Baghdad looks more like the Salinas Valley than the desert you typically envision, Matson says.
His younger son, Kyle, 20, served in Iraq last year and lost his best friend in combat.
Every day is rough, Matson said, but he thinks that troops should not be withdrawn before reestablishing the Iraqi security force, adding, "We cannot cut and run right now."
Some people may view his stance as pro-war or pro-Bush, but he says that's not the case at all.
"Bottom line, we made a big mistake going in, but now we have to try to rectify the mistake before leaving," he said.
One of the biggest worries that haunts parents like Lazo and Matson is not knowing whether their children will come back alive.
And when it comes down to it, the soldiers are fighting for no other reason than to stay alive, says Sgt. Joe Lindsay, combat correspondent in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.
"When the firefights are over," Lindsay said via e-mail, "then we can go back to talking about fighting for America and for freedom."
Lindsay, 38, earned an associate degree from Cabrillo College and played on the basketball team from 1987-89.
When he hears about students against military recruiters on campus, Lindsay says that's what soldiers defend: freedom of choice.
"It is great that people protest what they don't agree about," he said. "I just wanted to be one of the people that made sure they had the right to protest."
In about two months, he expects to see his wife and three young children again.
"That will be a good day," he said.
Contact Soraya Gutierrez at atsgutierrez@santacruzsentinel.com.
Ellie
santa cruz
Families await safe return of troops
By Soraya Gutierrez
Sentinel Staff Writer
Cristina Baca Lazo, 45, keeps a close eye on the death toll in Iraq because it's not just a number, but a part of her life as the mother of a Marine.
Talking about the situation her son signed up for makes her cry with worry.
But Lazo, an assistant nurse who immigrated to Soquel from Nicaragua in 1988, makes a quick recovery to express her opinions on the conflict in the Middle East.
The realities of war are felt by families in Santa Cruz County and around the world, both for and against it. As the price of oil is climbs to all-time highs, the president's approval rating is falls to all-time lows.
In Santa Cruz County, some people have expressed their anger by vandalizing SUVs with the words "Oil equals blood," and forcing military recruiters off the university's campus during a recent job fair.
There have been 2,600 coalition deaths as of April 25, including 2,391 Americans. At least 17,648 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.
From Lazo's point of view, the ideal thing would be to bring the troops back so they could be home with their families.
For her son, Santa Cruz High graduate Lance Cpl. Irwing Nunez Lazo, 22, that family includes his 2-year-old boy, Marquis.
"But we don't really know what the situation is in Iraq," she said in Spanish from her Soquel home. "Of course it would be great for them to return, but that decision is not in the hands of civilians."
Having children in harm's way is not something civilian parents can relate to, says Steve Matson of Capitola.
"... It is war, and our sons and daughters are battling every day," he said.
His two sons were born and raised in Santa Cruz and are Marines. For him, it's difficult to relate his feelings to the "ordinary folk" around here, he said.
"I don't know if that's good or bad," he said, "But it puts a different perspective on the comforts and activities we take for granted as Americans."
His son Nick, 22, is an infantry rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Their battle space between Fallujah and Baghdad looks more like the Salinas Valley than the desert you typically envision, Matson says.
His younger son, Kyle, 20, served in Iraq last year and lost his best friend in combat.
Every day is rough, Matson said, but he thinks that troops should not be withdrawn before reestablishing the Iraqi security force, adding, "We cannot cut and run right now."
Some people may view his stance as pro-war or pro-Bush, but he says that's not the case at all.
"Bottom line, we made a big mistake going in, but now we have to try to rectify the mistake before leaving," he said.
One of the biggest worries that haunts parents like Lazo and Matson is not knowing whether their children will come back alive.
And when it comes down to it, the soldiers are fighting for no other reason than to stay alive, says Sgt. Joe Lindsay, combat correspondent in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.
"When the firefights are over," Lindsay said via e-mail, "then we can go back to talking about fighting for America and for freedom."
Lindsay, 38, earned an associate degree from Cabrillo College and played on the basketball team from 1987-89.
When he hears about students against military recruiters on campus, Lindsay says that's what soldiers defend: freedom of choice.
"It is great that people protest what they don't agree about," he said. "I just wanted to be one of the people that made sure they had the right to protest."
In about two months, he expects to see his wife and three young children again.
"That will be a good day," he said.
Contact Soraya Gutierrez at atsgutierrez@santacruzsentinel.com.
Ellie