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thedrifter
03-01-07, 01:37 PM
Family thinks of loved one overseas
By: KEITH PHUCAS, Times Herald Staff
03/01/2007

CONSHOHOCKEN - Of Susan and Michael Cianci's four sons, Patrick calls home the least, according to his mother. But finding opportunities to phone home from Iraq are few and far between.

In fact, the last time U.S. Marine Cpl. Patrick Cianci called his parents in Conshohocken, they weren't home.
"He left a message, and I saved it so I can hear his voice," Susan Cianci said.

She said he's only permitted to spend about four minutes on a call.

Cpl. Cianci, who is on his second tour in Iraq, is serving with the 3rd Battalion, 14 Marine Regiment Headquarters Battery as part of the military police.

Many marines are stationed in the al-Anbar Province west of Baghdad.

The marine is a graduate of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
Currently, he's enrolled at West Chester University where he made the Dean's List.

"He joined (the Marines) to go to college, but then Sept. 11 happened," Mrs. Cianci said. "Whoever thought that we'd be in a war?"

When he returns to college, Cianci will be in his junior year, just as his 22-year-old brother, Matthew, is now.

Mrs. Cianci works as a switchboard operator at Sisters of Mercy in Merion, Pa. Her husband is a constable and works for Tony & Joe's Pizzeria in Conshohocken.

The corporal's first deployment to Iraq was in 2004.
His second tour began August 2006.

Typically, marines serve in 7-month rotations, however, this deployment could be longer, Mrs. Cianci said.

The Cianci's oldest son, Michael, 26, is a certified public accountant. Daniel, a student at Neumann College is 18. Her three sons in college are all majoring in accounting.

Matt and Daniel are "very close" to their brother Patrick, Mrs. Cianci said, and miss having him around.

Ellie