By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
The sign posted on a tree across from Lance Corporal Giovany Jaramillo's house said it all: A Hero is Coming Home at 53rd St.
The neighbors on his tight-knit Woodside block turned out in droves Saturday afternoon to greet the Marine with hugs, kisses and patriotic balloons upon his return from a five-month stint fighting in Iraq.
The soft-spoken 20-year-old appeared startled to find the street in front of his home turned into a block party of sorts with a gaggle of news cameras in attendance.
“It's awesome,” he said about his homecoming. “It's amazing to me.”
Jaramillo, a Queens native, lived in Colombia as a child before returning to the United States to attend IS 125 in Woodside and William C. Bryant High School in Long Island City.
He joined the Marines in 2002 because he said, “I wanted to be part of something special, something different.”
Jaramillo, an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion Echo Co. based in Camp Pendleton, Calif., was sent to Kuwait in February and was among the first American troops to enter Baghdad.
“When we were there, it was pretty bad,” said Jaramillo, whose unit's duties included checking for roadside bombs.
But he added, “There are just a few people that are bad … I didn't see too much hate towards us.”
It was tough seeing his comrades hurt in battle.
“I appreciate life a lot more now,” said the soldier, whose mature demeanor belies his young age. “Life is worth a lot.”
Jaramillo said he kept his mother, Miriam, in the dark about most of his experiences so she would not worry.
“It's most important to me that he came back alive,” said Miriam Rodriguez, who wore a T-shirt printed with her son's photo. “I was worried all the time.”
Rodriguez had a dinner of chicken, rice and soup waiting for her son upstairs, which he said would be far preferable to MRE's, or military jargon for meals ready to eat.
Jaramillo said thoughts of his mother kept him going, and he looked forward to the 30 days he would have at home before returning to base. His mother said she would take him out anywhere he wanted to go during his brief stay.
“You take advantage of the small time,” said Jaramillo.
City Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Woodside) presented the soldier with a proclamation honoring his service. He pointed out that Woodside residents had a history of patriotic military service.
“You deserve our unwavering support, appreciation and gratitude,” said Gioia.
Jaramillo thanked the crowd in Spanish for praying for him while he was away. Many family friends, old and young, surrounded their hero to wish him well.
When asked if he was looking forward to going back to work in a month, Jaramillo smiled and said “no, not at all.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
