thedrifter
09-09-06, 09:02 AM
Iraq war claims 'happy-go-lucky' Marine
Toms River 21-year-old was on his first week of missions
Saturday, September 09, 2006
BY MARYANN SPOTO
Star-Ledger Staff
Vincent Frassetto, a Toms River 21-year-old with a self-described lady-killer smile, shipped off to Iraq just 18 days ago.
He had been a rabble rouser at times, bristling even at the regimentation of the Cub Scouts, his mother said.
But he had chosen the Marines, the most elite service branch in his opinion, and appeared to have found a path. Before he left he talked of the military paying for college, and even mentioned that he might get a business degree and open a restaurant one day.
Pfc. Vincent M. Frassetto, however, was killed in Anbar province on Thursday. It was his first week of missions in the country. His convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device, military officials told his family.
"I still can't believe he's gone," his mother, Teresa Frassetto, said yesterday as she stroked pictures of her son, one serious in his dress uniform, the other smiling in a floppy hat and sunglasses.
Vincent's brother John, a Marine reservist, is on the way back from Iraq to attend his brother's funeral.
Vincent had the choice of volunteering for a mission in Iraq that would send him home after six months, or waiting for a later assignment with his unit and spending a year in Iraq.
He chose the shorter stint, and followed John to Iraq, just as he had followed him into high school football years earlier.
"He loved life and enjoyed himself. He lived it to the fullest," their father, John Frassetto, said yesterday outside the family home in Toms River.
Teresa Frassetto said she was shocked that Vincent had decided to enter the military. But she understood that he was trying to find himself and thought the military would be a good way to do that, and to pay his way through college if he decided to attend one day.
On his sister Alyssa's 19th birthday Aug. 20, just a day before leaving New Jersey, Vincent confided to her that he'd like to open a restaurant and possibly get a degree in business.
Until then, Vincent hadn't really decided on a future and occasionally tossed around ideas, like becoming a cop or buying a pizza place.
"He lived day to day," his father said. "He was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy."
One of four children, Vincent was a big jokester who would do silly things on a dare, but he was also the first to stop and help someone in trouble, said Jerry Di Giorgio, Vincent's uncle.
And he wasn't altogether humble about his looks with his thin, chiseled face and prominent chin under his close-cropped brown hair.
"He himself called his smile his lady killer," his mother said.
Expressing himself through his six tattoos -- he planned to get more when he returned home -- Vincent chose one especially for his war assignment. It was the Angel of Death, holding a sword. It was on his right side, between his underarm and his hip.
"That's what I'm bringing to the Iraqi (insurgents)," he told his mother as the meaning of the tattoo.
When he returned, he intended to get a tattoo of St. Michael the Archangel down his left side to signify his triumph and protection. Now St. Michael will be featured on his prayer card at his funeral, his mother said.
Frassetto was the 59th service member with ties to New Jersey killed in Iraq since the war began three years ago.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces. He received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
His mother said he spent his first week in Iraq in classroom training. He called last Sunday to tell her he'd probably start missions that week. He told her they'd be doing most of their traveling at night, as it was the safest time because no one but military personnel were allowed out after dark.
She said he was in a convoy delivering artillery supplies when the vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. He was in full protective gear but was hit by shrapnel, she said.
As neighbors heard the news, they offered their condolences when the family ventured out of their home at the end of Alissa Drive, a cul-de-sac. An American flag and a U.S. Marines flag have flown outside the two-story tan Colonial as long as they can remember, neighbors said.
Assistant School Superintendent Michael Citta, who was Vincent's football coach at Toms River High School North, said he "was the type of kid you get tight with really quick. Just a solid kid."
He said Vincent played linebacker in his freshman year, but suffered from "stingers" in his neck that kept him from playing in his sophomore year. Yet he'd still show up at practices and at games willing to do anything that was asked of him, Citta said.
"He came to practice every day knowing he was never going to get on the field because of his injury," Citta said. "Intestinal fortitude is what we call it."
Visiting hours are Friday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Luke's Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River. A funeral Mass will be offered Saturday at 10 a.m. at the church.
Ellie
Toms River 21-year-old was on his first week of missions
Saturday, September 09, 2006
BY MARYANN SPOTO
Star-Ledger Staff
Vincent Frassetto, a Toms River 21-year-old with a self-described lady-killer smile, shipped off to Iraq just 18 days ago.
He had been a rabble rouser at times, bristling even at the regimentation of the Cub Scouts, his mother said.
But he had chosen the Marines, the most elite service branch in his opinion, and appeared to have found a path. Before he left he talked of the military paying for college, and even mentioned that he might get a business degree and open a restaurant one day.
Pfc. Vincent M. Frassetto, however, was killed in Anbar province on Thursday. It was his first week of missions in the country. His convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device, military officials told his family.
"I still can't believe he's gone," his mother, Teresa Frassetto, said yesterday as she stroked pictures of her son, one serious in his dress uniform, the other smiling in a floppy hat and sunglasses.
Vincent's brother John, a Marine reservist, is on the way back from Iraq to attend his brother's funeral.
Vincent had the choice of volunteering for a mission in Iraq that would send him home after six months, or waiting for a later assignment with his unit and spending a year in Iraq.
He chose the shorter stint, and followed John to Iraq, just as he had followed him into high school football years earlier.
"He loved life and enjoyed himself. He lived it to the fullest," their father, John Frassetto, said yesterday outside the family home in Toms River.
Teresa Frassetto said she was shocked that Vincent had decided to enter the military. But she understood that he was trying to find himself and thought the military would be a good way to do that, and to pay his way through college if he decided to attend one day.
On his sister Alyssa's 19th birthday Aug. 20, just a day before leaving New Jersey, Vincent confided to her that he'd like to open a restaurant and possibly get a degree in business.
Until then, Vincent hadn't really decided on a future and occasionally tossed around ideas, like becoming a cop or buying a pizza place.
"He lived day to day," his father said. "He was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy."
One of four children, Vincent was a big jokester who would do silly things on a dare, but he was also the first to stop and help someone in trouble, said Jerry Di Giorgio, Vincent's uncle.
And he wasn't altogether humble about his looks with his thin, chiseled face and prominent chin under his close-cropped brown hair.
"He himself called his smile his lady killer," his mother said.
Expressing himself through his six tattoos -- he planned to get more when he returned home -- Vincent chose one especially for his war assignment. It was the Angel of Death, holding a sword. It was on his right side, between his underarm and his hip.
"That's what I'm bringing to the Iraqi (insurgents)," he told his mother as the meaning of the tattoo.
When he returned, he intended to get a tattoo of St. Michael the Archangel down his left side to signify his triumph and protection. Now St. Michael will be featured on his prayer card at his funeral, his mother said.
Frassetto was the 59th service member with ties to New Jersey killed in Iraq since the war began three years ago.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces. He received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
His mother said he spent his first week in Iraq in classroom training. He called last Sunday to tell her he'd probably start missions that week. He told her they'd be doing most of their traveling at night, as it was the safest time because no one but military personnel were allowed out after dark.
She said he was in a convoy delivering artillery supplies when the vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. He was in full protective gear but was hit by shrapnel, she said.
As neighbors heard the news, they offered their condolences when the family ventured out of their home at the end of Alissa Drive, a cul-de-sac. An American flag and a U.S. Marines flag have flown outside the two-story tan Colonial as long as they can remember, neighbors said.
Assistant School Superintendent Michael Citta, who was Vincent's football coach at Toms River High School North, said he "was the type of kid you get tight with really quick. Just a solid kid."
He said Vincent played linebacker in his freshman year, but suffered from "stingers" in his neck that kept him from playing in his sophomore year. Yet he'd still show up at practices and at games willing to do anything that was asked of him, Citta said.
"He came to practice every day knowing he was never going to get on the field because of his injury," Citta said. "Intestinal fortitude is what we call it."
Visiting hours are Friday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Luke's Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River. A funeral Mass will be offered Saturday at 10 a.m. at the church.
Ellie