thedrifter
01-01-08, 09:20 AM
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Navy Corpsman Niko Lunetta, of Hollywood, plans work as field medic
By TIM COLLIE
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 1, 2008
By this time next year, U.S. Navy Corpsman Niko Lunetta expects to be in Iraq. He wants to be there, as a field medic working with U.S. Marines.
Lunetta, 23, returned home to Hollywood over Christmas after two months of boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill.
He is studying anatomy and basic medicine and hopes to be assigned to the Fleet Marine Force, a combined command of the Navy and Marine Corps. After that, he's told it's likely he'll be sent to Iraq.
"I'm hesitant about it. I mean, it's war, so who wouldn't be?" said Lunetta, who attended South Broward High School. "But it's what I signed up to do. For me, it's the right choice.
"The reason I chose the corpsman side is that I thought I could do some good. People are dying."
Last year was tough for the recruit. Even though he was in Army ROTC at South Broward, his mother insisted he join the Navy. She thought it would be safer. She died several days before he shipped off.
"I've been very indecisive at times, so she was happy I made a decision," Lunetta said. "I'm more content, I'm happier now."
For him, the armed forces offer order, direction and career choices. After his hitch is up, Lunetta said, he might like to be a nurse or lab technician at a civilian hospital.
Or if he makes the Navy a career, he loves the idea of becoming a drill instructor like one he admired during boot camp.
"I like the physical nature of it," he said. "I like that I've changed, become more responsible."
Ellie
Navy Corpsman Niko Lunetta, of Hollywood, plans work as field medic
By TIM COLLIE
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 1, 2008
By this time next year, U.S. Navy Corpsman Niko Lunetta expects to be in Iraq. He wants to be there, as a field medic working with U.S. Marines.
Lunetta, 23, returned home to Hollywood over Christmas after two months of boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill.
He is studying anatomy and basic medicine and hopes to be assigned to the Fleet Marine Force, a combined command of the Navy and Marine Corps. After that, he's told it's likely he'll be sent to Iraq.
"I'm hesitant about it. I mean, it's war, so who wouldn't be?" said Lunetta, who attended South Broward High School. "But it's what I signed up to do. For me, it's the right choice.
"The reason I chose the corpsman side is that I thought I could do some good. People are dying."
Last year was tough for the recruit. Even though he was in Army ROTC at South Broward, his mother insisted he join the Navy. She thought it would be safer. She died several days before he shipped off.
"I've been very indecisive at times, so she was happy I made a decision," Lunetta said. "I'm more content, I'm happier now."
For him, the armed forces offer order, direction and career choices. After his hitch is up, Lunetta said, he might like to be a nurse or lab technician at a civilian hospital.
Or if he makes the Navy a career, he loves the idea of becoming a drill instructor like one he admired during boot camp.
"I like the physical nature of it," he said. "I like that I've changed, become more responsible."
Ellie