€We Pray for a Quick Ending' by Stephanl* Brown "The Navy Has Tomahawk Missiles
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ECORD No one can guarantee success in war, but only deserve it — Winston Churchill. Vol. II, No. 4 A Forbes Newspaper Thursday, January 24,1991 233-9696 P.O. Box 2790, Westfield 07091 15 Cents €We pray for a quick ending' By Stephanl* Brown "The Navy has tomahawk missiles. They are patrolling the Record assistant editor waters, challenging enemy ships," she said. "Normally, a tour is six months or 180 days. Now it's an open ended thing. They will Judy Shmurak shakes her head in disbelief at the irony. stay until there is peace there." "Last year at this time, he was on a cruise ship on his honey- She said that her son entered the armed forces knowing that moon," she said of her son, Frederic. "Now he's on a ship in the the possibility of combat was real. Persian Gulf." "He didn't know this specific thing would happen," she said. Frederic, who is called Rick by his friends and family, grew "But he's very brave. He doesn't evade his responsibilities." up in Westfield, attending Jefferson School, Edison Intermedi- Although she fears for her son, Shmurak supports the coun- ate School, and graduating from Westfield High School in 1984. try's decision to go to war. His mother lives on Central Avenue. "I think it's something we have to do," she said. "The only way you have to deal with a bully is to make him fear you. If you don't agree with the U.S., first it's bad for morale, and second, you're playing into Hussein's hands." Although she supports the government, Shmurak is making no predictions for the war's outcome, "I'm afraid to be too optimistic," she said, "because it hurts HOME FRONT too much when you're wrong. We pray for a quick ending." He became an Eagle Scout when he was only 14, which his mother said is indicative of his personality. "If there's something he can get, an award or something, he'll get it," Shmurak smiled, remembering when Rick received a surface warfare achievement as an ensign, the first rank before lieutenant "From the scouts, he's very patriotic," Shmurak said. Rick attended the Citadel military school for college, spending four years in the ROTC on a Navy scholarship. He entered the Navy in May, 196a His father was in the Army- His father is deceased, leaving Mrs. Shmurak and her daughter Maria, Rick's sister, as a support group of two. Rick's wife, Kim, is a student in California. When he gradu- ated from Citadel, Kim pinned one set of bars on his uniform, while his mother pinned the other. Rick's ship was based in Long Beach, Calif., before he was sent to the Middle East "He misses his wife terribly," Shmurak said. "They're like newlyweds." She said Rick knew he was going to the gulf in September, and the ship left in November. However, they did not arrive until after the New Year. "They had a good time going over," she said, adding that one of the ship's stops was in Hawaii. "He called from Bahrain as soon as they got there. It was 4:30 in the morning here, so that scared me when the phone rang. He said he has difficulty sleeping. There's a lot of stress. He didn't dwell on how they feel NAVY LT. JG FREDERIC SHMURAK graduated from there too much." Westfield High School In 1984. Now, he is in the Per- Now, she is faced with uncertainty. sian Gulf. 'I'm so concerned about Michael' By Stephanlt Brown "When you're young like that, it's dif- him and I miss him," Mrs. Dodd said. "I Record assistant editor ferent than when you're talking about think it's important that if people agree Jim and Pat Dodd gave their son, your own children," he said. "I feel more or disagree, they support the troops. It's concerned now than I did then." important for their well-being and sur- Photo by Stuart Awtorey Michael, a book on the Marines for Christmas. Now, Mr. Dodd uses the book Mrs. Dodd said Michael is "a strong vival." OLD GLORY RISES In hands of scout leader Douglas Du Bois whose to show people pictures of the vehicles person, a stable person, with a terrific Troop 72 lads raised 258 flags for Martin Luther King Day. Flags will stay up his son rides in that travel from ships to sense of humor." throughout Gulf War. Related photos on pages A-5 and B-4. the gulf shores. She had mixed feelings about her son's "He was home for Christmas," Mr. departure. Just before he left, they spoke Dodd said, trying to smile. Now, they are on the phone. not sure exactly where Michael is. "He felt he had to go, but he was Protesters demand peace scared," she said. "I'm so concerned about Michael. They Her feelings are far from mixed, how- By Donald Plzzi Jr. tently, as he struggled with the wind to said if we don't get a letter this week, ever, about Saddam Hussein. Record staff writer keep the banner down so it was visible. they would try to trace him,' Mrs. Dodd "I would like to see him annihilated," "We're fighting for oil, oil companies, big said, referring to the key wife of the re- she said. "Isn't that a horrible thing to Westfield resident and Vietnam War corporations, that's what we're fighting veteran Thomas Pi Her tightly held the serve unit in Norfolk. say? But I do believe he's an evil per- for. And we'll all have to remember son." fringe of a banner decrying United States someday that it was Bush who fired the The Dodd's youngest son, Michael involvement in the Middle East first shot." Francis Dodd will celebrate his 20th "I think he made a big political mis- To Piller, there is no doubt why his birthday in the gulf Saturday. He was a take," Mr. Dodd said. "A big miscalcula- country is at war. Piller joined about 15 other protesters sophomore attending the business school tion." "We're fighting for oil," he said in- of the war in the Persian Gulf at a peace at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, If they could speak to Michael now, vigil Saturday in front of the First United Va. on an ROTC Marines scholarship, be- what would they tell him? Methodist Church. Sponsored by the fore he was called into service in the "I'd try to be upbeat and tell him Union County chapter of SANE, the vigil gulf. He left for Camp LeJeune Jan 2, what's on the news as we see it," Mr. was a forum for the protesters to speak and departed for the gulf the Thursday Dodd said. MARINE PFC MICHAEL DODD Those who out against the country's military in- after New Year's Day. volvement, while at the same time voice "I'd tell him that he has support from will celebrate his 20th birthday in their support for the troops in the gulf. The living room of the Dodd's home on the country as a whole, and say I love the Persian Gulf. SANE has been fighting against the use Burrington Gorge boasts a large painting serve from of nuclear weapons and violent conflict of the family. Michael, in military uni- for over 35 years. form, stands proudly behind his parents. He is flanked by his two older brothers, 'He has a very good spirit' Westfield Several of the protestors held the ban- James, who lives on Long Island, and ner, which read "Working For Peace that Timothy, a senior at Monmouth College, By Stephanie Brown years in Fort Hood, Texas, before being Here are addresses of local soldiers these dead shall not have died in vain." who lives at home. Record assistant editor sent to the gulf currently stationed in the Persian Gulf. Others explained the purpose of the For Gloria Koski, the only good thing Richard's wife, Frances, was also in The Record is interested in obtaining "He's part of a Marine reserve group, vigil to people walking past the church, that may come out of the Gulf War is the the Army. Although she is now a teacher, names and addresses from other local the Amphibious Battalion. They drive and brought attention to a SANE- opportunity to spend more time with her she still serves in the reserves. Koski people who are stationed in the Middle these vehicles that go from ship to shore sponsorcd bus trip to Washington this granddaughter, and even that will be a fears Fran will also be sent to the gulf. East We will publish the names so that and then on land," Michael's father said. Saturday for an anti-war rally. (For infor- "They go 55 miles per hour on land and mixed blessing. The couple has two children: Chris- others may write to them. mation, call Bill Grifieth, 654-3060.) topher, 11, and Amber, 17 months eight knots in the water. On the news Koski's son, 34-year-old Richard, has they said there are 10 to 12,000 marines "I was down in Texas in August be- Petty Officer Charles Hall "This is a vigil bearing witness for been stationed in the Persian Gulf since waiting to land or assault the beaches of cause Fran was in Germany and 1 was C0MIDEASTORF0R N-2, peace," said Gloria Deodato, a Westfield September.