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Fil-Am soldiers mark Valentines with goodbyes

by Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

Posted at 02/16/2012 5:19 PM | Updated as of 02/16/2012 5:19 PM

LOS ALAMITOS, California - Newlyweds Lester Osotio and Freyja Vercelles celebrated Valentine's Day eating barbecue at the Joint Forces Training Base, as friends and family said good bye to members of the US Army in a deployment ceremony.

After 6 years of service Osotio, a US Army Specialist, is making his first overseas deployment. He will be deployed to Kuwait to help US forces continue security missions in the aftermath of the Iraq War.

“We've been training for several months, weeks, for deployment specifically, and spending time with family as much as we can in between all those trainings," said Osotio.

"I don't really know what to expect because I've never been in this position before, so we can just hope for the best," added Vercelles.

Some 150 members of the California Army Reserve 140th Chemical Company based in Southern California will leave for Kuwait this week.

While most of them are on their first-ever deployment, Staff Sergeant Chris Arcelona, a 10-year veteran, is fighting overseas for the third time.

“It's something you can get used to, but the hardest part for me is saying good bye to the families. Families and everything, saying good bye is the most pressing thing, it's always gets down to me," he said.

Despite time away from loved ones, many of the Filipinos say they have different reasons for accepting the mission.

Private Monica Morosi, looks forward to the college benefits in joining the army, but also added, "It's not all for college, but I'm excited about the experience and meeting new people."

Specialist Rona Samson not only sees the army as a chance to repay the country she moved to 7 years ago, but to also earn money for her family in the Philippines.

“I went here from the Philippines to find a job, and everything and is a good thing for my family too back in the Philippines," said Samson.

This army unit has one more stop before they carry out their mission. They will endure another 2 months of training in Mississippi before they head to Kuwait. These soldiers are expected to return home in April 2013.

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