by Mike Schnitzel
Abreu first joined the Marine Reserves in April 2001. "I had just passed NYPD School Safety Academy and I figured I could do anything at the time," said Abreu. "I always wanted to be in the military, but I thought 23 was too old to go on active duty, so I went into the reserves. I wanted a piece of it."
When Sept. 11 came around, Abreu was at the Marine Air-Ground Task Force in Twenty Nine Palms, Calif., going through military occupational studies courses at Marine Corps Communications Electronic School. It was at that point it became apparent that going into a combat situation could become a reality.
Abreu was called into active duty in February 2003 and was stationed at Camp Commando in Kuwait with the Sixth Communications Battalion, Alpha Company. "I was scared, definitely, but I wanted to go," he said.
While stationed at Camp Commando, Abreu, a Queens resident, helped to secure hidden explosives around gas and oil separation plants in joint missions between the Marines, the Explosives Ordinance Disposal Task Force, and British forces.
After a six-month tour of duty, Abreu returned home. During his time back, Abreu took a break from working, enjoying spending time with his 9-year-old son, Christopher, going out to restaurants, and spending nights out on the town.
Duty called again in June 2004, and Abreu was sent to Iraq, where he was stationed at Camp al-Asad as part of the Combat Service Support Battalion Seven Special Group.
While in Iraq, Abreu supervised multi-channel equipment operators and oversaw the operation of radio communications in the area.
During this second stint with the Marines, Abreu was deployed for the Battle of Fallujah, where his battalion was augmented to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. "It was a scary sight," said Abreu. "It was definitely a learning experience, but I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy at the same time."
While in Fallujah, Abreu worked as a radio operator for night recoveries. After receiving a call, he would help to recover any vehicle or large items left on the road in order to make sure that allied convoys had a clear path, he said.
According to Abreu, his unit was nearly hit by mortar fire on his first night in Fallujah. "It reminded me of Kuwait," said Abreu. "It's just like, okay, part two. [Your reaction] is automatic, you just hide."
Now that Abreu has returned home again, the corporal is emphatic about the best part of returning to civilian life. "Definitely sleeping," said Abreu with a chuckle. "I couldn't sleep at all with all of those bombs coming down."
Abreu hopes that this time he has returned home for good. "They say I'm not going to have to go again because I've already been there twice, but who knows what the president wants," said Abreu.
Abreu's friends and co-workers were glad to see that Abreu had returned home safely for the second time, and he returned to duty at the Valley Stream Public Safety Department on April 11.
"He's a good kid, he's an outstanding officer here," said Thomas DeSimone, director of the Valley Stream Department of Public Safety.
