Soldier Overcomes Adversity Conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan Members Have Sacrificed Their Have Taken a Financial Toll on the Well-Being for Our Country
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Vol. 88 Issue 40 November 10, 2010 Veterans Day events WHAT’S INSIDE OPINION in Orange County ‘Cous I Said So: Election aftermath Various celebrations are taking place on ........................................4 Thursday in honor of America’s former soldiers See VETERANS, page 5 FEATURES Alumni forefront of science- fiction genre steampunk Tuition to increase ........................................6 next semester by 5 percent SPORTS The CSU Board of Trustees approved the $105 increase that Men’s soccer: A midfielder’s will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011. season to remember See CSU, page 2 ........................................8 dailytitan.com The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton AMERICAN HEROES SHARE EXPERIENCES FROM THEIR TIME AT WAR JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan Chang Wong, a 28-year-old marketing major and veteran, has his bed placed low to make it easier to get on and off of it. Wong served as Sergeant. Tank gunner, in the 1/11th ACR Alpha Company 2nd platoon in the U.S. Army. He lost his limbs during his first stop-loss in the Iraq war. War by the Numbers Cost of War Since 2001, American service- Soldier overcomes adversity Conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan members have sacrificed their have taken a financial toll on the well-being for our country. Student loses legs in explosion, uses prosthetics and despite past depression, now perseveres economy of America. ANNA GLEASON “I had just gotten my green card while still in probably won’t be back for a while,” Wong said. Casualties Daily Titan high school, almost graduating, I was going to at- “My mom cried of course; my dad, he didn’t Estimated Cost 2010: tend Pasadena City College but they were going know what to say besides being supportive, and to charge me out-of-state tuition,” Wong said. my brothers, they were supportive too.” Iraq Walking through Steven G. Mihaylo Hall at “They told me to come back in a year so I decided After leaving his family behind, Wong was Iraq Since March 2003 Cal State Fullerton, Chang Wong looks like any to take some time off, relax a bit. Within that deployed to Korea, but would later be moved to in billions 4,430 other student. No one would guess that the re- one-year, I had a couple of buddies who wanted Iraq. Wong served almost a full four years before $65.4 served 28-year-old marketing major lost some- to join the military and they said, ‘Hey, you want the day he lost his legs. Afghanistan thing that many of us would find devastating. to join the military?’ and I thought, ‘Sure! Why While serving in Iraq in May 2005, Wong’s Afghanistan His legs. not?’” tank was hit by an improvised explosive devise on 1,357 Since October 2001 Wong first came to the United States with his Wong joined the Army with a friend in August an early morning patrol. Of the four men inside, $72.9 in billions parents at the age of two from Malaysia. 2001. He broke the news to his parents the day Wong’s injuries were by far the most severe. Both During his senior year of high school, after re- he left, waiting until the recruiter came to pick of Wong’s legs were amputated below the knee. ceiving his green card, Wong made the decision him up. to join the Army at the urging of some friends. “I basically said, ‘Mom, Dad, I’m heading out, See STUDENT VETERAN, page 3 Amputees Total Cost: Servicemembers have lost Student veterans discuss War tests the strength of Iraq at least one limb 967 experiences during service personal relationships $748 in billions Have lost more than one Afghanistan limb (as of March 2010) STEPHANIE GOMEZ KAREN DICKINSON 229 Daily Titan Daily Titan $299 in billions The top-secret initiation ritual for The sound of metal exploding echoed mariners crossing the equatorial line through the dry desert air. A pressure Emotional Toll was the only topic student veterans plate had triggered, a landmine and a Percentages include veterans suffering deemed off limits to civilian ears at the marine was severely injured. Grand Total: from depression, anxiety and PTSD “Ask a Veteran” panel event sponsored Marine, Cpl. Todd Love, of the 1st by the Veteran Services Center. Recon Battalion was not supposed to The three panelists were game be front man Oct. 25. The usual front of those who for all other questions ranging from man in his platoon backed out. It was served in Iraq what motivated each student to join then that Love took his place. the military, favorite experiences and An outsider would have difficulty 17% lingering effects from their individual imagining that Love recently lost his $1.08 service. arm and legs as result of an improvised of those who The event was held Tuesday, Nov. 9 explosive device at war in Afghanistan served in from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and was hosted due to his tenacious and positive out- Afghanistan by the Women’s Center on campus. MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan look on life. TRILLION 11% Cadets from the ROTC program at California State Fullerton took part in a field See PANEL, page 3 training exercise for the U.S. Army at Camp Pendleton, Calif. See SEPARATED, page 2 Contact Us at [email protected] dailytitan.com November 10, 2010 2 NEWS Timeline of war from Sept. 11 to present Sept. 11, 2001 March 19, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 28, 2004 Feb. 17, 2009 Aug. 31, 2010 President Bush addresses the Terrorists from al-Qaida hijacked Obama declares an end to Combat nation on the invasion of President Bush arrives on Images of torture at the Abu four commercial airplanes and President Obama sends Mission in Iraq. War in Afghanistan Iraq on the basis that Iraq the USS Abraham Lincoln Ghraib prison are revealed; flew them into the World Trade forces to Afghanistan. continues. There have been 4,411 ca- is holding weapons of mass to declare “Mission Accom- the public finds the images Center towers and the Pentagon; sualties in Iraqi Freedom and 1,299 destruction. plished.” distasteful and call for Don- 3,000 civilians and aid workers ald Rumsfeld’s resignation. in Afganistan’s Operation Enduring died from the attack. Freedom as of Oct. 3, 2010. President Obama names General David Petraeus the Commanding General of In- President George W. Bush ad- ternational Security Forces in Afghanistan United States and the Unit- dresses the nation on initial President Obama promises from General Stanley McChrystal after Mc- ed Kingdom declare war operations in Afghanistan stat- Saddam Hussein is captured. to take troops out of Iraq by Chrystal made controversial comments in a on Iraq in “Operation Iraqi ing that on his orders strikes 2010 June 22, 2010 Rolling Stone article. against al Qaida had begun. Freedom” June 23, 2010 Oct. 7, 2001 March 20, 2003 Dec. 14, 2003 Feb. 7, 2009 Compiled by Luke Cherney / Daily Titan Wall brings honor to veterans SEPARATED: ONE AT WAR, ONE AT HOME KELSEY LANEY who are serving or have served. ... Continued from page 1 didn’t want to be around other people. on Oct. 29. Upon arriving he ex- but set a target date of July 2011 to Daily Titan “The wall honors (the veterans). I didn’t want to talk to anyone.” pressed to nurses that he was ready for begin bringing troops home, the Los It is a way to thank them for their “Hey everyone! I just wanted to say Love sustained his injuries while his “bionic legs.” Angeles Times reported Monday. service to the country,” said Rom- thanks for all the prayers and all the out on a mission. During the patrol, The next day, the Commanding, Love and Scholz are not the only In honor of Veterans Day, photos mel Dizon, communications and support. All the love just makes this Love stepped on a pressure plate that Sgt. Major personally delivered Love’s couple affected by the war in Afghani- of Cal State Fullerton’s own veterans public relations officer for the SVA. new chapter in my life that much bet- triggered the IED. He was quickly Purple Heart. stan. Partners of servicemembers are are displayed on the Wall of Heroes “We don’t stand out to the rest of the ter. This won’t be easy, I know, but in transported to an Afghanistan hospital Doctors were unable to save Love’s constantly tested every day that their located at the end of the Titan Walk. campus, but with these photos maybe my mind I’ve already won. I’ve got the where he underwent the first of many damaged left arm because they felt it loved ones are gone. “The purpose of the wall is to raise students will recognize them in their greatest doctor and therapist and that surgeries. He then underwent nerve would hinder his rehabilitation pro- In war, “no news is good news. If awareness campus wide that these classes.” is God, so no worries,” reads 20-year- reconstruction surgery in his left arm, cess. They amputated it below the he doesn’t call, and if you don’t get men and women are heroes,” said Students like Trina Tan feel the old Cpl. Love’s latest Facebook post. which was done in Germany. elbow. notified, he’s doing all right and every Scott Bartosik, president of the Stu- wall benefits both the veterans and At 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, Me- “I will never forget the phone call “It seems like people today tend to thing’s OK,” said Julianna Pomparelli, dent Veterans Association.