At last, back from Fallujah At last, back from Fallujah (October 22, 2004)

by Jeb Bing

F riends and family filled the Main Street Brewery last Saturday to celebrate the homecoming of Jeff Duarte, the 22-year-old Marine sergeant who is nearing the end of a four-year enlistment, much of it spent in Iraq. Duarte, the son of former American Little League president Mike Duarte and his wife Beth, joined the Marines in March 2001 for what he thought would be good experience and eventually college funds from the military. That proved to be more than he was counting on after the terrorists' attacks six months later. His unit went on combat alert and in early 2002, Duarte shipped out to Kuwait. When the U.S. invaded Iraq in March, he was with the first contingent of troops heading for the southern city of Nasriye, where he manned patrols until the Army took over that summer. He then went to the more hospitable kingdom of Bahrain and on to Australia before being reassigned back to Camp Pendleton as the Iraqi invasion seemed to be proceeding on course.

But when the war heated up again, the Marines were ordered back, along with Duarte's 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines Weapons Company, which was assigned to Fallujah. Duarte told me that Fallujah is about as bad as it gets, not only for GIs but also for Iraqis, most of whom have long avoided the city for what they call its "Wild West" culture of weapons trading and lawlessness. For Americans, it's been the focal point of insurgent attacks, with Duarte and the platoon of five Humvees and 19 Marines he commanded often in the midst of battles. His fellow Marine and close friend Tom Hartrick of Montana, also 22, who has two young daughters, took a major hit when a piece of an AK-47 round dug into his thigh. After quick medical treatment and despite Duarte's protest, Hartrick returned to the gunfight, crouched beside Duarte and still bleeding through his pants until the mission was completed. Another close friend from Marine boot camp, Matt Stoddard, was also nicked by an errant piece of shrapnel, but stayed with Duarte's unit for the duration. Duarte, himself, was injured while on patrol last July 4 when his Humvee was struck by an explosive device and knocked him unconscious, causing a concussion and temporary hearing loss.

Duarte's parents, who have been glued to news reports and always appreciative of the frequent e-mails and phone calls from their son, finally were able to cheer when word came that he was on the way home. Along with their other sons - Justin, who lives in Anaheim, and Matthew and Stephen, who are students at Hart Middle School - they were on hand at Camp Pendleton on Oct. 8 when Duarte's company returned home after a 20-hour trip from Camp Fallujah and Baghdad. There was Jeff, marching in formation at the head of his CAAT Platoon, looking a little older and thinner, but still flashing his trademark smile as he passed by. At an awards ceremony, he received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Valor for "distinguishing himself in combat by heroic action." Then after congratulatory remarks by the commanding officer, the company was "dismissed to your families," and the group's long, perilous mission in Iraq was over.

Duarte reports back for duty Monday, first working as a Marine recruiter at the Murrieta office in Livermore, and then back to Camp Pendleton for other assignments until his discharge in March. Planning to enroll in college, Duarte may join his friend Matt Stoddard at the University of Colorado. His other buddy, Tom Hartrick, has just re-enlisted for four more years and may make Marine service a career.

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