thedrifter
05-03-03, 06:49 AM
2000 Wilson High graduate aspires to be a top Marine
Saturday, May 03, 2003
By RUDY MILLER
The Express-Times
Nathan Nace of Williams Township always wanted to be a soldier, from the time he put on his father's camouflage and a "Rambo" bandanna at age 8.
"Those were his 'Top Gun' days,'' said his sister Nicole Foran. "He watched 'Top Gun' 24 hours a day."
Now Nathan is a real-life soldier with the U.S. Marine Corps, keeping records and performing maintenance duties on the deck of the USS Nassau in the Persian Gulf, sometimes flying in with vital supplies for the U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Nace followed his father, Vietnam veteran Barry Nace, into the Marines. The 21-year-old Wilson Area High School graduate knew the military was the place for him, even if his mother was slow to accept it.
Sue Nace said recruiters waited at the Nace home for hours before she gave her son's enlistment her endorsement.
"I totally support his decision to be in the Marines, but as a mom, you fear for him," Sue Nace said.
Nathan left for Parris Island, S.C., on the night of his high school graduation in 2000. He attended college before he was activated in January 2002.
The Persian Gulf hasn't been his only international stop. Nathan spent time in the Mediterranean Sea performing a Kosovo peacekeeping mission, and trained in Djibouti, Africa.
The family receives frequent updates via e-mail, although Nathan is limited in what he can say.
"He always sends a message to let us know how he's doing," Foran said. "He can tell the family where he was two weeks ago, but he can't say where he is or where he's headed. He can't mention dates."
Family members have done what they can to boost morale for Nathan and his shipmates. Nathan's grandmother sent enough cookies to keep the ship well stocked, according to Sue Nace. Foran's kindergarten students at Greenwich Township Elementary School sent letters and pictures.
"They said, 'Thank you for protecting our country,'" Foran said. "(The soldiers) hung them throughout the ship."
Barry Nace was pleased his son decided to share his experience in the Marines because, in his words, the Marines "have a way of bringing everything out of you." He didn't anticipate Nathan would end up fighting in a war, but the young soldier's father said he put Nathan's fate in God's hands, and believes God will bring him home safe.
Although Nathan hasn't received word officially, he believes he should be home by Memorial Day weekend, according to his high school sweetheart, Sara Shiroff.
The family can't wait for the coming-home party. They remember their son, brother and boyfriend with a blue spruce tree decorated in red, white and blue lights in front of the family's Williams Township home. The tree will remain lighted each night until Nathan comes home.
Nathan's activation expires in January 2004. At that point, he'll finish college and hopes to become an officer in the Marines, Sue Nace said.
"This has been his dream," she said of her son's military enlistment. "You never want a loved one to go to war, but it's a way for Nathan to find out what he wants to do with his future. I'm very proud of him."
Barry Nace said he's happy soldiers like his son get the recognition Vietnam veterans were slow to receive. There can never be enough praise for the brave young people willing to risk their lives on America's behalf, he said.
"I hope more consideration and tribute is paid to the military for what was accomplished over there," Barry Nace said.
Reporter Rudy Miller can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at rmiller@express-times.com.
Sempers,
Roger
Saturday, May 03, 2003
By RUDY MILLER
The Express-Times
Nathan Nace of Williams Township always wanted to be a soldier, from the time he put on his father's camouflage and a "Rambo" bandanna at age 8.
"Those were his 'Top Gun' days,'' said his sister Nicole Foran. "He watched 'Top Gun' 24 hours a day."
Now Nathan is a real-life soldier with the U.S. Marine Corps, keeping records and performing maintenance duties on the deck of the USS Nassau in the Persian Gulf, sometimes flying in with vital supplies for the U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Nace followed his father, Vietnam veteran Barry Nace, into the Marines. The 21-year-old Wilson Area High School graduate knew the military was the place for him, even if his mother was slow to accept it.
Sue Nace said recruiters waited at the Nace home for hours before she gave her son's enlistment her endorsement.
"I totally support his decision to be in the Marines, but as a mom, you fear for him," Sue Nace said.
Nathan left for Parris Island, S.C., on the night of his high school graduation in 2000. He attended college before he was activated in January 2002.
The Persian Gulf hasn't been his only international stop. Nathan spent time in the Mediterranean Sea performing a Kosovo peacekeeping mission, and trained in Djibouti, Africa.
The family receives frequent updates via e-mail, although Nathan is limited in what he can say.
"He always sends a message to let us know how he's doing," Foran said. "He can tell the family where he was two weeks ago, but he can't say where he is or where he's headed. He can't mention dates."
Family members have done what they can to boost morale for Nathan and his shipmates. Nathan's grandmother sent enough cookies to keep the ship well stocked, according to Sue Nace. Foran's kindergarten students at Greenwich Township Elementary School sent letters and pictures.
"They said, 'Thank you for protecting our country,'" Foran said. "(The soldiers) hung them throughout the ship."
Barry Nace was pleased his son decided to share his experience in the Marines because, in his words, the Marines "have a way of bringing everything out of you." He didn't anticipate Nathan would end up fighting in a war, but the young soldier's father said he put Nathan's fate in God's hands, and believes God will bring him home safe.
Although Nathan hasn't received word officially, he believes he should be home by Memorial Day weekend, according to his high school sweetheart, Sara Shiroff.
The family can't wait for the coming-home party. They remember their son, brother and boyfriend with a blue spruce tree decorated in red, white and blue lights in front of the family's Williams Township home. The tree will remain lighted each night until Nathan comes home.
Nathan's activation expires in January 2004. At that point, he'll finish college and hopes to become an officer in the Marines, Sue Nace said.
"This has been his dream," she said of her son's military enlistment. "You never want a loved one to go to war, but it's a way for Nathan to find out what he wants to do with his future. I'm very proud of him."
Barry Nace said he's happy soldiers like his son get the recognition Vietnam veterans were slow to receive. There can never be enough praise for the brave young people willing to risk their lives on America's behalf, he said.
"I hope more consideration and tribute is paid to the military for what was accomplished over there," Barry Nace said.
Reporter Rudy Miller can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at rmiller@express-times.com.
Sempers,
Roger