Graduating from Centreville High in 2001, Luis Mogollon wasn't ready for college yet, but wanted to make something of his life — so he joined the Marines. Now he'll be celebrating his 20th birthday, this Friday, in Iraq.
"It's the second birthday he's spent in the desert," said older brother Julio, 22, of Centreville's Sully Station II community. "Last year, he was out training in Twentynine Palms, [Calif.]"
The son of Barbara and Julio Mogollon Sr., Luis also has a sister, Michelle, 13, a seventh-grader at Stone Middle School. Julio Jr. is a senior at Shepherd College in West Virginia, where he's majoring in business.
Luis did karate for seven years; at Centreville High, he was a percussionist with the concert band for three years and was on the drumline in the marching band. He enjoys hanging out with friends, and his brother describes him as someone who "likes to kid around and make people laugh."
He began boot camp in August 2001 at Southern California's Camp Pendleton, eventually specializing in communications. He's now a lance corporal with the First Marine Division, 11th Marine Regiment, Second Battalion in Iraq.
"He was originally supposed to go overseas to Japan, but then his orders got changed, the beginning of [this] year," said Julio Jr. "He deployed, Feb. 1. I was worried about him, but I don't think it really hit home that he was gone until I saw [Pres.] Bush's ultimatum and then all the stuff on TV about the war."
But for Luis' parents, reality set in immediately because, although he was in California, they usually talked with him on the phone almost every day. "We've been writing letters to each other — the mail's really slow," said Julio Jr. "My parents sent him care packages with candy, letters, snacks and hygiene products such as eye drops."
He said his parents appreciate all the support their friends and neighbors have shown them. However, he added, "Not knowing exactly where Luis is makes it harder to deal with. The last letter we got from him was dated March 15; he was doing lots of training and running — keeping in shape for whatever would happen. Things were slow then."
Translating some comments from his mother from Spanish to English, Julio Jr. said, "My mom misses him a lot and just hopes this war will come to a resolution soon. She's praying for the safety of him and all the troops out there — and she's proud of all of them."
Luis called home, March 12; he said he and the others were waiting to drive across the border from Kuwait into Iraq. "I think he'll do well — his unit has been training for over a year-and-a-half," said his brother. I'm sure it's tough on all of them, but they've become friends. And I'm sure Luis will do whatever's asked and won't let anyone down."
Meanwhile, Barbara Mogollon watches the TV news about the war, and it helps close the geographic gap between her and her youngest son, just a bit. "She feels more comfortable not being in the dark and knowing a little more about what's going on," said Julio Jr. "We're proud that Luis is out there fighting for his country and for something he believes in, and we hope he returns safely and promptly."