Marine keeps U.S. helicopters airborne
Vince Jablonowski won’t be eating turkey with his family on Thanksgiving.
Instead, he will be eating the grub at Camp Leatherneck, the forlorn, wind-swept Marine base in Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand province.
Camp Leatherneck’s cooks will probably serve some sort of turkey dinner, but the order of the day will be to keep the helicopters flying, trimmings or no trimmings.
"We’ll be doing what needs to be done out here," the 19-year-old lance corporal from Boulder City said Monday in a telephone interview from the forward base.
"Nothing moves without fuel out here. We’re always busy," said Jablonowski, a bulk fuel specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371.
From the runways of nearby Camp Bastion, Jablonowski and his ground-support team make sure that the helicopters shuttling troops, supplies and fresh water around the war zone have enough fuel to get to where they’re going.
They also fuel attack aircraft, like the Bell AH-1W Super Cobra, the UH-1Y Venom as well as the versatile MV-22B Osprey and the CH-53 Super Stallion.
"I like working with helicopters," said Jablonowski, a 2010 graduate of Boulder City High School.
He didn’t waste time after graduating to join the Marines. He left for boot camp in August, fulfilling a childhood dream.
"One of the oldest memories I have is I saw a water tower with the word ‘Marines’ on it. I talked to my mom about it, and she basically described the Marines as the branch that every other branch looks up to," he said.
"So I always looked up to the Marines and wanted to be part of them. And it’s always a bonus to serve your country."
Since arriving a couple of months ago, Jablonowski can attest that the food at Camp Leatherneck is "nothing like home."
And that means a lot to him on Thanksgiving because, as his mom, Lynn Jablonowski, back in Boulder City says, "He’s a turkey man."
"Thanksgiving is Vincent’s favorite meal."
She said she "couldn’t be more proud of him" and will be praying at Thanksgiving for his safe homecoming in the spring.
She said her son has "wanted to be in the Marines since I can’t remember. It wasn’t ‘if,’ it was a matter of ‘when.’ "
"It’s a great thing that this young man is willing to put himself out there," Lynn Jablonowski said.
"But if I had my choice, my son would be here in our country, defending our borders."
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.
