April 15, 2004

Almaden Marine, Julio “Alex” Guzman, becomes a media celebrity

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

Gabriela Guzman's Internet search for news of her brother, Julio “Alex” Guzman, who is serving in the Marines, has paid off big dividends during the past several weeks.

The 22-year-old girl spotted her brother's picture in at least two media outlets. In one, which appeared in the San Diego County-based North County Times daily newspaper, he's fully dressed in his Marine combat uniform posting guard at a roadblock at the northwest side of the city of Al-Fallujah, Iraq, during “Operation Vigilant Response.”

In the other, seen in the latest online edition of Time Magazine , he's in a photo essay titled, “Streets of Fire.” A North County Times photojournalist traveling with Guzman's 2 nd Battalion's Fox Company took both pictures. In the Time Magazine photograph Alex is getting ready for b attle after another soldier in his platoon was seriously injured when he was shot in an ambush.

Although not identified, Gabriela knew it was her brother. His face has a blank stare and his mouth is slightly open. He seems to be kneeling on the ground.

“It's a sad picture, but I was happy to see him,” said Alex's mother, Nora Guzman. “It's very shocking.”

“It was like somebody threw a bucket of cold water on me,” said Julio Guzman, Alex's father, of the first picture his daughter discovered last week on the Internet. “It made me realize what he's doing is so real and so dangerous.”

Family prayers
As U.S. military and coalition forces risk lives to give Iraq a sovereign government, the Almaden Valley couple prays for the safety of the troops and the safety of their son.

“They're helping to establish a legitimate Iraqi government,” said the proud father, whose 19-year-old son left for Iraq Feb. 29 and was assigned to the 2 nd Battalion, 1 st Marine Regiment.

“Our faith in God keeps us going,” added Alex's mother about her belief in God and her trust in God's will. She said fervent daily prayers on behalf of her son have also brought peace and comfort during his absence.

“We're an average family. We have a strong belief in God and that's our only hope. We believe that if we leave our problems up to God, He'll find a solution, especially in times like this when we have no control over what's happening over there. He's the only one we can trust to make things better,” continued Alex's father. The elder Guzman works as a facilities engineering manager for Fluor Corporation, one of the world's largest construction and maintenance service organizations, which coincidently was hired by the U.S. government to provide construction services for the U.S. Army in Iraq.

The couple and their three other children attend the Willow Glen Baptist Church. They moved to Almaden Valley in 1992.

“Prayers help us make it through each day. We pray for him and for all of them (the troops) because they're like a big family. Everyone there is someone's child, father, mother and brother,” explained Nora.

Troop support
The Guzmans would like to see more support for the troops overseas. Like many San Jose families of servicemen and women serving in Iraq, they want to help the Pro-America Spirit organization, which has about 150 members and was founded by Renata Carico to promote unity and pride in America and support America's troops.

Over the past year, the organization has held numerous rallies throughout the Bay Area. They have also partnered with the Operation Care and Comfort arm of the Red Cross. The organization is sponsoring a barbecue and a car wash to raise funds to send care packages to the troops April 17 at the Almaden Feed and Fuel, 18950 Almaden Road in San Jose from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“I want to become more active in supporting our troops in Iraq,” said Nora. “I think they're doing a great job.”

Parents like the Guzmans agonize at the news that despite the June 30 deadline to hand sovereignty to an Iraqi government, troop presence in Iraq is expected to continue for several years.

“We have to be realistic. I think this is going to take a long time. Hopefully, all these kids will come back in six to eight months, but we don't know. We pray that will be the case,” said Alex's father.

Alex communicates with his family through e-mails and phone calls. At a recent birthday celebration for an uncle, the Guzmans chatted with their son while he watched them through a Web camera he was viewing in Iraq. They say their son is stationed, along with thousands of other U.S. troops, in the city of Al-Fallujah, located 35 miles west of Baghdad.

“We strongly believe as parents that he's there to fight a good cause, to liberate the country of Iraq. There are so many people who are suffering,” said Julio.

The Guzmans believe reports and polls that indicate the Iraqi people are thankful for the American government's intervention.

“The majority of the people in Iraq are for freedom. There are some who are confused and are trying to instigate situations,” added Julio about insurgents who have killed and kidnapped several people during the past several weeks. “It's a stressful time. We understand the mission, even though it hurts, we're worried. Every one of us has been affected.”

The Guzmans confess that they try to avoid watching newscasts of the escalating violence in the war-torn country. They also occasionally second-guess themselves for allowing their son to join the Marines at a time when they knew he would most likely be deployed to Iraq.

“But I'm very proud of him,” said Nora Guzman. “At first I had mixed feelings, but now I'm so impressed with my son. He wants to make a difference along with the other troops working to give the people of Iraq a better life. He really believes he can make a difference.”

The Guzmans haven't had contact with their son in more than a week because his company was sent on a special mission.

Always wanted to serve
Alex attended Leland High School receiving his high school diploma in June of 2003. Instead of being recruited, Alex contacted the Marines during the last semester of his senior year.

He enlisted, successfully completed boot camp and later was stationed in Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif. He graduated from the Marines on Aug. 22, 2003.

When he was five years old, his parents said he showed a love of country unlike that of any other child they had known. His father said he realized his son would eventually join the armed forces.

“As a parent, you're reluctant to support this concept even though it's a noble cause…. But we knew from the start that Alex was going to go in that direction,” he said. “He always dreamed about the uniform.”

Nora Guzman remembered how, soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, her son wanted everyone to feel safe. “He told me he wanted to make a difference,” she said. “I think he really wanted to make the country better.”

Alex participated in the Police Activities League (PALS) program during his senior year of high school. The program, sponsored by the San Jose Police Department, trains young people about the duties of police officers. There, his parents said, he worked undercover to make sure liquor stores complied with the age limitation for selling alcohol to minors. He also worked as a security officer at a stadium.

The Guzmans have two other daughters, Carolina, 23 and Norah, 20.

Julio, a native of Bolivia who is now an American citizen, said his son was raised in a close-knit family. “We've always been united and close. I taught him the values that were passed on to me by my parents, and they are basically about respect.”

Nora Guzman is a native of Mexico. She, too, is an American citizen. “We're proud of our culture and we're proud of our heritage,” she said. “We love this country so much.”

Vanessa Tassone, of San Diego, said her 5-foot, 11-inch boyfriend is a “goofball,” but is so patriotic, recently waving the United States flag in front of his Almaden home shortly before leaving for Iraq.

“Alex is the type of individual who would never say no if someone was in need,” said his father. “Alex is a kind person willing to help. He's an excellent son.”

His father's eyes blurred with tears as he recalled Alex telling him “man to man,” “Father, I'm going to make you proud someday.”

“I never understood that,” said Julio. “I've always been proud of him, from the day he was born, but now more than ever I'm proud because he's defending human rights and freedoms that all people should enjoy.”