By Evan Nemeroff
At close to 7 p.m., 300 troops with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment rolled into the 1st Marine Corps District Reserve Training Center in Garden City. They were greeted by cheering loved ones who were waving American flags, holding homemade banners, and shouting “Thank you!” and “We love you!” as the buses passed.
New York City and Nassau County firetrucks lined Stewart Avenue to welcome the troops, blasting their horns as the Marines pulled into the base.
One of those Marines, returning from his third term in Iraq, was staff sergeant David Kocaj, of Cedarhurst.
“Overall, it’s just a great feeling coming home,” said Kocaj, a 1999 graduate of Lawrence High School. “I don’t like receiving all this credit fighting for our country because it's what I enjoy doing.”
The 27-year-old’s first term was on a ship off the coast of Afghanistan. Kocaj then was sent to Iraq in 2003 for two years where he fought for Camp Baharai Al-Fallujah, in Al Anbar during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. Kocaj's latest service in Iraq lasted seven months.
Now that Kocaj is home, he plans to return at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York. He also goes back volunteering at the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department.
Kocaj does not know when he will be scheduled to return to fight for our country, but wants to savor his return to the Five Towns. “I just want to enjoy being home and spending time with all of my family and friends,” Kocaj said.
Comments about this story? ENemeroff@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
