thedrifter
06-06-03, 11:52 AM
Marine sergeant wins honors in Iraq
By Amy Myrick
amyrick@eastbaynewspapers.com
BRISTOL - Sgt. Andrew Calise’s picture shows a serious young man, with short hair and thoughtful eyes, wearing the dark blue uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I think his nose looks crooked," says Guy Calise, Sgt. Calise’s father who lives on Wendy Drive.
A crooked nose can’t distract from the six medals that decorate Sgt. Calise’s chest. Since becoming a career officer in 1997, Sgt. Calise has won accolades in progressively higher levels of the service.
Sgt. Calise was scheduled to come home from his post in Keflavik, Iceland, for a leave in January of this year. War in Iraq changed those plans.
He chose to respond immediately to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was involved in some of the key battles of the war. Sgt. Calise’s regiment was the first to enter Iraq from Kuwait, and his battalion tore down Saddam Hussein’s statue after reaching Baghdad.
By reading papers and occasionally watching television, Mr. Calise was able to follow his son’s movements from home even when they could not speak.
"These were the worst three, four months of my life," he said. "You hear about Marines being killed over there, and you don’t know who it is."
Sgt. Calise told his father not to worry. He complained only about sandstorms and inactivity.
"The parts he didn’t like were parts when they weren’t doing anything," Mr. Calise said. "As long as there was action and danger he was fine."
Sgt. Calise has repeatedly proved his valor in the course of his six-year military career. As a boy, Sgt. Calise attended St. Philomena’s School in Portsmouth and Portsmouth Abbey School. After graduating in 1996, he went to Holy Cross College on a ROTC scholarship. Sgt. Calise loved the military training and enlisted full-time in the Marine Corps in 1997.
Sgt. Calise immediately distinguished himself among the thousands of Marines in his regiment, earning the Marine of the Quarter award and certificates of commendation from his officers. In 1999 he received his first medal, the Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal, for apprehending two armed robbers who had assaulted another service member.
Two years after enlisting he received a meritorious promotion to the rank of sergeant. Sgt. Calise traveled to the Middle East, where he trained as a counter-terrorism specialist. He led an eight-person team that responded to the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, receiving the Joint Service Achievement Medal from Secretary of Defense Tommy R. Franks.
After two years in the desert Sgt. Calise was transferred to Iceland. There, he continued to fight terrorism on assignments throughout Europe. He served as Color Sergeant, performing ceremonial duties that reflected his love of history and military tradition.
Showing typical dedication, the sergeant put off a much anticipated visit home to return to the hot sands of the Middle East this spring. Mr. Calise had to wait to celebrate his son’s victories in person.
The wait ended on midnight of May 31, when Sgt. Calise touched down on Rhode Island soil. The sergeant and his father plan to spend the next days visiting relatives and friends. Sgt. Calise also hopes to collect his girlfriend in Virginia for a visit to Bristol.
Mr. Calise is understandably proud of his son’s accomplishments. But Sgt. Calise, he says, views them as just a part of the job.
"He loves being a Marine, so he enjoys everything he needs to do," Mr. Calise said.
Even learning that he is nominated for a Bronze Star for his valiancy in Iraq has not phased Sgt. Calise. He looks forward to a promotion and to new challenges to tackle in dangerous locations.
"They’re a different breed, these Marines," Mr. Calise observed.
http://www.eastbayri.com/news/2003/0605/Front_Page/013.html
Sempers,
Roger
By Amy Myrick
amyrick@eastbaynewspapers.com
BRISTOL - Sgt. Andrew Calise’s picture shows a serious young man, with short hair and thoughtful eyes, wearing the dark blue uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I think his nose looks crooked," says Guy Calise, Sgt. Calise’s father who lives on Wendy Drive.
A crooked nose can’t distract from the six medals that decorate Sgt. Calise’s chest. Since becoming a career officer in 1997, Sgt. Calise has won accolades in progressively higher levels of the service.
Sgt. Calise was scheduled to come home from his post in Keflavik, Iceland, for a leave in January of this year. War in Iraq changed those plans.
He chose to respond immediately to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was involved in some of the key battles of the war. Sgt. Calise’s regiment was the first to enter Iraq from Kuwait, and his battalion tore down Saddam Hussein’s statue after reaching Baghdad.
By reading papers and occasionally watching television, Mr. Calise was able to follow his son’s movements from home even when they could not speak.
"These were the worst three, four months of my life," he said. "You hear about Marines being killed over there, and you don’t know who it is."
Sgt. Calise told his father not to worry. He complained only about sandstorms and inactivity.
"The parts he didn’t like were parts when they weren’t doing anything," Mr. Calise said. "As long as there was action and danger he was fine."
Sgt. Calise has repeatedly proved his valor in the course of his six-year military career. As a boy, Sgt. Calise attended St. Philomena’s School in Portsmouth and Portsmouth Abbey School. After graduating in 1996, he went to Holy Cross College on a ROTC scholarship. Sgt. Calise loved the military training and enlisted full-time in the Marine Corps in 1997.
Sgt. Calise immediately distinguished himself among the thousands of Marines in his regiment, earning the Marine of the Quarter award and certificates of commendation from his officers. In 1999 he received his first medal, the Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal, for apprehending two armed robbers who had assaulted another service member.
Two years after enlisting he received a meritorious promotion to the rank of sergeant. Sgt. Calise traveled to the Middle East, where he trained as a counter-terrorism specialist. He led an eight-person team that responded to the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, receiving the Joint Service Achievement Medal from Secretary of Defense Tommy R. Franks.
After two years in the desert Sgt. Calise was transferred to Iceland. There, he continued to fight terrorism on assignments throughout Europe. He served as Color Sergeant, performing ceremonial duties that reflected his love of history and military tradition.
Showing typical dedication, the sergeant put off a much anticipated visit home to return to the hot sands of the Middle East this spring. Mr. Calise had to wait to celebrate his son’s victories in person.
The wait ended on midnight of May 31, when Sgt. Calise touched down on Rhode Island soil. The sergeant and his father plan to spend the next days visiting relatives and friends. Sgt. Calise also hopes to collect his girlfriend in Virginia for a visit to Bristol.
Mr. Calise is understandably proud of his son’s accomplishments. But Sgt. Calise, he says, views them as just a part of the job.
"He loves being a Marine, so he enjoys everything he needs to do," Mr. Calise said.
Even learning that he is nominated for a Bronze Star for his valiancy in Iraq has not phased Sgt. Calise. He looks forward to a promotion and to new challenges to tackle in dangerous locations.
"They’re a different breed, these Marines," Mr. Calise observed.
http://www.eastbayri.com/news/2003/0605/Front_Page/013.html
Sempers,
Roger