Former Marine goes Guard

Photo By Spc. Elvyn Nieves | Former Marine and Minnesota Army National Guardsman Pfc. Giacomo Digiacomo, Company D, 2nd Battalion 135th Infantry, gets ready to fire the M240 machine gun as part of his training for the peacekeeping mission to Kosovo.  

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

08.30.2007

Story by Spc. Elvyn Nieves 

113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Elvyn Nieves
113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – After retiring from the Marine Corps 14 years ago, a native of Spring Lake Park, Minn., is being deployed to Kosovo as a Soldier.

Pfc. Giacomo Digiacomo from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, is a former Marine who joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in January.

Digiacomo said he chose the Army National Guard instead of the Marine Corps because he wanted to serve the people close to him in his hometown.

"In the National Guard, you are a civilian Soldier," said Digiacomo. "This directly helps the men and women from Minnesota. I want to help my fellow Soldiers come back safe from this deployment. I'll do whatever I can do to accomplish that goal and complete that mission. That's why I'm here."

Digiacomo explained that during his days in the Marine Corps, he acquired valuable knowledge.

"I still feel my mission is not done yet," said Digiacomo. "I was a heavy machine gunner and all that I learned there stuck with me over the years, so I thought it would be a good idea to step up and pass that information on to these young Soldiers," said Digiacomo.

Scheduled to serve in Kosovo on a one-year peacekeeping mission, Giacomo said the most challenging aspect for him would be adapting to the role of peacekeeper.

"We're still warriors but it's a different role," said Giacomo. "I've never been in a role like this before where I need to protect people and make sure that they're comfortable and safe. We'll go over there and ensure they have the same freedom we enjoy here. That's going to be a challenge."

Giacomo said he doesn't feel his first deployment as a Soldier is going to be an easy one.

"I don't think there is an easy part," said Giacomo. "As soon as somebody starts thinking that something is easy, that he's done it a million times before, that's when accidents happen, that's when people get hurt. You have to look at everything like it's a big deal and make sure you're operating safely."

He also confessed that, although this deployment is what he wanted in order to complete his personal mission, he's actually looking forward to the day he reunites with his girlfriend and his two sons.

• Date Taken: 08.30.2007
• Date Posted: 09.03.2007 14:38
• Story ID: 12107
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US