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DEL.ICIO.USPuerto Rican ‘Caribbean Pirates’ part of family
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Baghdad, Iraq — “Vamonos!”
Sgt. 1st Class Hector Perez is calling for his men to move out. The sun is setting, casting an orange glow around Camp Striker. It’s time to go.
Not all of Perez’s men are fluent in English, so he switches between languages throughout the evening.
“Vamonos! Rock ‘n’ roll! Let’s do it!” the former English teacher shouts into the swirling sand.
Louie Favorite/AJC
Spc. Luis Mercado of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, rests after completing a 12-hour overnight patrol mission. • MORE PHOTOSAUDIO
• Spc. Cedeno Ricardo of Bayamon prays in Spanish for the “Caribbean Pirates” platoon as the troops prepare to patrol near Baghdad International Airport.
• Spc. Cedeno Ricardo repeats the prayer in English.
• Sgt. 1st Class Hector Perez, “The Beast,” of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, commands his platoon in English and Spanish
These soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 295th Infantry Regiment, based in Juncos, Puerto Rico, have 12 hours of tense night patrol ahead. While fighting off sleep, they will hunt for insurgents firing mortars at their base and be on the lookout for terrorists trying to launch rocket-propelled grenades at planes landing at Baghdad International Airport.
Perez and his soldiers are attached to the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team. Most in the brigade are from Georgia, but in addition to the Puerto Ricans, the unit has added soldiers from Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Maryland and Rhode Island for its yearslong tour in Iraq.
Perez, a police drug investigator in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, when he isn’t serving with the Guard, says insurgents have put a $50,000 bounty on his unit’s Humvees because it has been so effective. Since arriving here in June, the Caribbean Pirates, as they are known, have captured several terrorists and seized some large caches of weapons.
Before Perez’s platoon pulls out of Camp Striker, he asks Spc. Cedeno Ricardo to say a prayer. Many of the Puerto Rican National Guardsmen are devout Christians.
The platoon circles around Ricardo. Bathed in the glow of a Humvee’s headlights, he prays first in Spanish, then English.
“Give them the strength to continue on,” says the 21-year-old massage therapist from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, “so that we can all go back home to the United States of America, every single one of us, back to our families.”
The soldiers head into the night, driving on narrow dirt roads along deep canals. They are just south of the airport. A chorus of dogs howls under a moonless sky. The soldiers peer into the greenish glow of their night vision goggles. Machine gun fire echoes in the distance.
When not out on missions, some of the soldiers cook traditional Puerto Rican dishes, such as arroz con gandules — rice and pigeon peas — in a large steel pot, using ingredients mailed to them from home.
They say they’re like brothers with the Georgia soldiers. Photographs of several Georgians killed in Iraq hang in their headquarters, beside U.S. and Puerto Rican flags. The Puerto Ricans pay tribute to those who have died by test-firing their machine guns every time they pass the spot where a massive roadside bomb killed four 48th Brigade soldiers.
“We are all the same army,” Perez says. “There is no way to make it back home alone.”
Perez has earned the nickname “la Bestia” — “the Beast” — because he is tough and seems emotionless. A black knife sticks out of his left boot. A tattoo of an eagle with a U.S. flag stretches across his right bicep. At age 42, he has spent more than half his life in the Puerto Rican National Guard.
A Roman Catholic, Perez believes there is good and evil in the world. And the insurgents, he says, are doing evil by indiscriminately killing women and children.
“They do it in the name of Allah. That’s bull. They just want to assume power. Definitely, we are the good guys. Definitely, they are the bad guys.”
Perez says his faith in God grew after he survived a roadside bomb this year. His hearing was damaged, so he now sometimes speaks louder than necessary. He has had trouble sleeping since the blast.
Several other men in his unit have survived similar attacks and firefights. Two have been nominated for Purple Hearts.
Despite his rough exterior, Perez laughs easily, especially at his men’s jokes. He misses making lasagna and rabbit stew at home. He speaks lovingly of his wife, Fatima, and their three children.
“I never thought I could miss my children and my wife so much,” he says. “She is an amazing woman.”
As the sun starts to rise, Perez and his men park their Humvees at an intersection and start searching vehicles that pass through. They pay special attention to pickup trucks, because insurgents often fire mortars from them or pack them with explosives and drive into groups of soldiers.
Several vehicles pass through. Finally, their shift is over. The night was quiet — too quiet for Perez. He senses that something is going to happen.
When they return to camp, they learn that the Humvee carrying the Puerto Rican soldiers who replaced them on patrol was hit by a roadside bomb. It happened just 15 minutes after Perez’ unit left, on a route it had patrolled. None of the five passengers was seriously injured, but the Humvee was totaled.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Wife of a 48th Soldier
October 5, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this
May GOD keep you guys safe! It is easy to forget that not all our 48th BCT guys are from Georgia and it is good to hear about the other units too! You are correct “You are the same ARMY and you do need each other to make it back home”. Continue to take care of your brothers in arms and know that the families back home are praying that all our soldiers return home safely to their loved ones. Thanks for all that you do to keep us safe here in the USA! GOD BLESS AMERICA we are the land of the free because of the BRAVE!!
By Jose A. Figueroa-Colon
October 5, 2005 09:58 AM | Link to this
One Army, one mission. Keep up the good work my Puertorrican brothers and sisters. We are proud of you all.
By Thanks
October 5, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this
Thank you for this article, the pictures and the audios. I hope you will be able to showcase at least one unit from each state attached to the 48th. I don’t think we Georgians have forgotten that the soldiers from Alabama, Illinios, Maryland, Missouri and Rhode Island are there with the 48th but that we have taken them into our hearts and consider them part of our 48th family. We love the all and pray for their safe return.
To the Soldiers of the combined 48th: Thank you for your sacrifices. You are brave warriors. May God bless each of you and keep you well and safe.
Vaya Con Dios.
By Manny Padilla
October 5, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this
“The Caribbean Pirates”, I love it. As a veteran and a Puertorrican, I feel very proud of your contributions to the war effort. Keep your head down and be safe.
By Mayra
October 5, 2005 02:21 PM | Link to this
To all of my brothers from the PRNG’s 1/295 IN BN, God protects you and keep you from harm. And to come back home to Puerto Rico, so you can be once more with your families. Dios los bendiga a todos, en el Nombre de Jesus. Amen.
By Marcos Rivera-Former Marine
October 5, 2005 05:57 PM | Link to this
God bless all of you on the 48th and your families, you are doing an awsome job out there. And I will also like to say hi to my uncle who is in the unit from Juncos,Puerto Rico…”The Caribbean Pirates”… SGT. Rivera,Carlos. WE love you uncle!! I always have you on my prayers. God bless you!
By Pam: all American
October 5, 2005 08:26 PM | Link to this
Excellent Senor Perez, you are absolutely right, evil may be intimidating, but we KNOW who holds the”REAL POWER”!!! Jehova, Yaweh,King Of Kings,Our LORD and Savior … You keep on praying… this war has put Americans on their knees…I know i’ve been on mine more.I pray God will have mercy on each and everone of you and send his angels into battle with you. Thank “All of You “for every sacrifice you have had to make.God Bless the USA and Iraq!
By Mario E. Villamarzo, Jr.
October 5, 2005 10:27 PM | Link to this
May God keep you all safe. We appreciate all that you are doing in the name of freedom. I pray that all the men of the 48th return home safely. I am extremely proud of the Caribbean Pirates. Vayan con Dios!
By Elizabeth Torres & CW3 Angel Hernandez
October 5, 2005 10:43 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the articule from our Puertorrican Soldiers, we so proud of them, my husband is a part of Puerto Rico Army National Guard, he is an instructor helicopter blackhawk pilot, and I so proud to hear for the good work that all the puerto rico national guard soldiers, and I completly approve that this army Its the same for all, no diferences, all for the liberty and peace in the world. So thanks from my bottom of my heart, I’m really proud when I read the article ” Puerto Rican Soldier, Pirates of the Carribbean” God Bless all.
Elizabeth Torres de Hernandez Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
By GYSGT Wilberto Torres
October 6, 2005 02:55 AM | Link to this
From all of us here in Afghanistan, just like our missions over here, we also pray for your safe return to the states and to la isla de encanto
By David Luke
October 6, 2005 07:29 AM | Link to this
We as Americans are very proud of the job our soldiers are doing to keep America safe from oppression and attach. You are to be commended for your bravery and service all in the name of FREEDOM. Freedom comes with a price, and Freedom will prevail. Thank you all for the tremendous sacrifices you all have made over there. God bless each and every soldier over there, and may God bring you home safe. An ex-Vietnam Veteran who really cares about his country and the men who have fought and died for their country. For those that think you aren’t serving a purpose over there, then let them walk in your shoes for just one day? It is because of men like you that America remains the home of the brave and free. Thank you again for all the job you are preforming over there.
By Joanna
October 6, 2005 06:22 PM | Link to this
I’m so proud of you guys “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Please take care of each other as you usually do. Keep the good work out there. We are keep on praying. SPC Dimas Fragosa. I love you with all my heart. SPC. Rivera Varcarcel your wife love you too. Bless you all!
By George Wheelock
October 6, 2005 07:36 PM | Link to this
You men make me so proud to be American! You represent real diversity; different backgrounds, but Americans first! Thank you for what you are doing. My children and I will add your unit to our prayer list. May God continue to bless you as you serve our nation.
By Javier Quiles
October 6, 2005 09:51 PM | Link to this
First I want to say that Im proud of every American soldier, Im proud of them, and Im proud of my Carribean Pirates, I want to say Thanks to Jeremy for the article just few people writte like him, with hes feelings on hand, thanks for the good comments about those proud Puerto Ricans Soldiers….