Photo By Vaughn Larson | Staff Sgt. Cecilio Munoz assists with security in Joint Task Force Guantanamo, July...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – In a military career that is just shy of three decades, Army Staff Sgt. Cecilio Munoz may have seen it all.
When it comes to Guantanamo Bay, he's seen it twice.
Munoz first served here from 1981-83, when he was a Marine Lance Cpl. with the Ground Defense Force. Quite a bit has changed since then, he said.
"You had a Cuban community here," Munoz recalled. "There were about 300 Cubans coming in to work – we used a school bus to take them in and back.
"There were many Spanish-speaking dependents," he continued. "The community was better – [it was] closer to military personnel than now. Lots of activities going on."
Some of those activities included more rest and recreation opportunities to Jamaica, Tahiti and Puerto Rico, Munoz said. An express bus used to ferry people directly to the Navy Exchange, to sick call and to the beach. He conceded, however, that back then the base was without a Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, or even McDonald's.
"We had the Windjammer," he said.
Marine field artillery pieces used to fire shells into the ocean where Joint Task Force Guantanamo now operates, Munoz said. The Marines also trained with tanks at Guantanamo Bay as part of the Ground Defense Force. Munoz recalled patrolling the fence line and maintaining bunkers.
"It was kind of hard work," he said.
Munoz left the Marine Corps in 1997, and after a brief retirement joined the Puerto Rico Army National Guard later that year. He said military service helps pay the bills, noting that he has a son studying in Mexico to become a doctor.
The 52-year old called this deployment a challenge, but said he shares his experience with younger troops – and listens to their knowledge as well.
"They still call me 'old man' anyways," he said, adding that he may stay in the military until he is 60 years old.
Munoz deployed once before with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard for a 12-month tour providing ground defense at U.S. Army Garrison in Vicenza, Italy.
Despite some major differences between Guantanamo Bay then and now, Munoz acknowledged there are similarities as well. His current mission with the JTF also involves maintenance along towers and fences – just not the same towers and fences.
His daughter was born while he was stationed here in 1983. On her 25th birthday, he found himself back here. And while the uniforms are different, Munoz said both missions are important.
"I feel proud," he said. "I like Gitmo."
www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2008 11:09 |
| Story ID: | 22441 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 216 |
| Downloads: | 187 |
This work, Here and Back Again, by Vaughn Larson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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