Family members prepare to deploy to Afghanistan together

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - 588 soldiers will be leaving this week to begin a one-year deployment to Afghanistan.  Among the hundreds of soldiers set to leave are several family members.   Ask any soldier and they'll tell you that preparing and going on a deployment is difficult and can be considered one of the more challenging things they've done in life.  But for more than a dozen soldiers, deploying to Afghanistan will be even harder as they have a loved one who will be on the deployment with them.

Meet the Guerrero Brothers: 30-year-old Captain Gene Guerrero and 28-year-old Private First Class Scott Guerrero. They're among some of the siblings who are deploying together. The Guerreros come from a family of servicemembers - in fact, all four brothers are in the Guam National Guard. One is already deployed to Afghanistan while Gene and Scott are heading out later this week.

Gene said, "I kind of had an idea that we were going to be deploying together. It's good, but at the same time at least for me, because my brother is going to be in a different area in Afghanistan, that worry is always going to be there about his wellbeing. Is he getting everything he needs? Are they taking care of? Just that older brother mentality still kicks in."

This is Gene's second deployment and he's offered advice to his younger brother, who aspires to become an officer in the military. "I had mixed emotions," Scott shared. "I was scared. I was excited. I had no words for the deployment for the most part I was excited. I wanted to get the experience and say that I actually served my country."

"It's comforting to know he will be there with me. If I do need any advice I can always call him up. Going in a hole, what can I do to get myself out of it?" said Scott.

Both are looking forward to returning home to spend time with family, as Gene said, "I'm a family man. I love spending time with my kids. We do everything together with my family, my kids, my wife.  So just looking forward to getting our life back on track.  As much as we hate to say it life really for them has to go on, but for us it's sort of at a standstill for us because all the things we want to be doing we can't do until we get home. Just looking forward to getting on with our lives. And hopefully peace out there and other areas of the world so we don't have to go out there but it is our job and we're proud to do it.

As for his brother, Scott is looking forward to spending time with family and going back to school full time as he aspires to become an officer in the military.

Sergeant First Class Anthony Lizama has been in the Guard for 17 years, and told KUAM News, "It's taught me to be a better person, respect other people, respect more of life." This will be his third deployment and undoubtedly it will be the most difficult, as his only son will be on it with him.

Specialist Randall Lizama has always wanted to join the military since he was a kid.  One of his grandfathers was a Navy diver, the other was in the Army. "They taught me to push and never quit and I take that over to my civilian life also and do the best I can at it," he said.

"Growing up, he obviously has taken his training and brought it home especially with me. Iit was a tough upbringing for me, so it was nothing new," said the younger Lizama of his father. "He just advised me how to go about things and what route I should take. Even though he doesn't think I listen sometimes, it just falls into place that I do, so he always gives me good advice and at times when I need it, a boot up to get me moving."

But Anthony admits that preparing his son for Afghanistan hasn't been easy and worry fills his mind. "I'm hoping he takes his training and my training also that we take it back and use it and come back safe," he said. "In the back of my mind, I'm worried. I've got other soldiers to think about. Yes, I'm worried about him, of course. That's the bottom line but I got other soldiers to think about."

He's given his son advice for the deployment in hopes his voice will help guide Randall during the difficult missions in Afghanistan, saying, "Be safe be conscious of what's around you. Don't take things for granted."

Anthony says having been deployed to Third World countries has given him a greater appreciation for life instilling in his children the importance of being grateful for what you have. Although they've been through two deployments before, this one is the most difficult on the Lizama family, as the men of the home prepare to leave.

"I'm worried about my wife, too," said Anthony. "She's taking it pretty good now, but I know deep down she's worried, especially her only son. She's holding up." Added Randall, "She's the toughest person I know. She's soldiering it out herself."

For the past year, the family has been coming together every Sunday having dinners and spending as much as they can together.  They look forward to picking up where they left off when they return and taking a long vacation to visit their family living in Las Vegas.  Randall said, "All the families that are going through this, we have a pretty good group to my family. I love you, I've been training for this, I'll see you guys again."