By Jeff Lipton
The terror attacks so angered Jovel, who lives in Inwood, that he decided to join up after he graduated from Lawrence High School. Now the 19-year-old is assigned to the First Battalion, Second Marine Division Expeditionary Brigade, which is in charge of artillery and ammunition supplies in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Jovel's family hasn't heard from him in over a month, since he sent a letter saying he was in Kuwait, awaiting instructions for the war. He may have been in combat with Iraqi forces without his family even knowing about it.
In the letter, Jovel said he was getting two hot meals a day, showering once a week and doing laundry by hand, said his sister Brenda, who lives in Suffolk County.
After Sept. 11, he reinforced the need to serve his country, she said. We are extremely proud and honored to have him serving his country, especially in times like these.
Brenda said the Jovels are a family of immigrants from Guatemala and that Anthony is the first member of the family to be born in the United States. She said he has taken great pride in his country and is honored to defend it. She added that her brother adores her son, and wants to help protect America's freedom for him and his future. He said he needed to help protect the country, she said.
Anthony's mother, Maria, who has lived on Rhinehart Place in Inwood for eight years, said she is glued to the TV, watching around-the-clock news coverage of the war. Every minute when I go home, I watch TV, said Maria, who works days as a baby-sitter. People tell me not to watch the TV, it's not good for me. But I'm scared. I don't sleep. I wake up at 3 in the morning to watch the TV.
Also watching events unfold in Iraq are Anthony's brother, Walter, 27, and his father, Manfredo. Maria Jovel said she last heard her son's voice on Jan. 17, when he called and they spoke for five minutes.
When I received his letter, I was more upset and I cried, his mother said. The letter said, Mommy, don't worry about me. I think I'm coming back home. Early or late, I will come back to my home. I'm taking care of myself. I hope you are taking care of yourself too.'
Anthony joined the Marines in December 2001, six months after graduating from Lawrence High. He was so emotionally affected by the Sept. 11 attacks that he was compelled to join the armed forces. His sister said he also believed the experience would open more doors for educational opportunities. He wanted to do it for his own personal growth, Brenda said. He wanted to experience the world. He's a good kid. He never had any problems in school. He's a brave young man.
After he joined the Marines, Anthony was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Since the U.S.-led coalition forces invaded Iraq, the family has had little rest. We stay up till 2 or 3 in the morning watching the news, Brenda said. We have our worries and concerns and we've been praying a lot. That's what we've been doing, watching the news and praying for Anthony and the rest of the troops, praying for the well-being of all the troops.
We're not so much nervous, she went on. We're more worried than anything else. I know they're well-trained, but war is not like a training experience; it's the real deal.
Brenda said the U.S. and the coalition forces are doing what had to be done: removing an evil dictator from power and freeing the Iraqi people from tyrannical leadership. The Iraqi people will no longer suffer under that evil regime, she said.
She said anti-war protesters should be reminded of what happened on Sept. 11. Americans should be more supportive, she said. The troops need the moral support.
Even after the war is officially over, Brenda said she may not see her brother for several months, because he's indicated that he will be shipped to Okinawa, Japan. We hope he comes back home and doesn't go straight to Japan, she said. He said he will probably be stationed there for about six months.
We hope to see him in three to six months, she said. In the meantime we'll be watching the TV and hoping and praying for him.
