Home » Archives » "Brothers from Fontana go to Iraq"

Brothers from Fontana go to Iraq

Nov-12-2007 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

By PHILIP A. RUE, Fontana Herald News

Two graduates from Fontana A.B. Miller High School were the key speakers at the Fontana Rotary Club this past Monday, but instead of wearing cap and gown to denote graduation time, they wore instead their Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU), a camouflage outfit denoting membership in the U.S. Army.

They are brothers and they are soldiers -- Staff Sergeant Frank Verdugo, age 32, and his younger brother, Specialist Daniel Wibert, 21.

Verdugo had just returned last Saturday from his second tour of duty in Iraq.

He mentioned sadly that during his first tour, two of his Bronco troop members were killed in action. On a mission in his second tour, his gunman, who sat next to him on the vehicle, was shot and killed by a sniper.

His group went on missions and patrols every day using an 8-wheel armored vehicle of medium weight for greater maneuverability. It was called a Stryker vehicle, named after a fallen soldier.

Operations, according to Verdugo, were more sophisticated during his second tour than during his first tour. Everybody had learned from their experiences.

An interpreter was with them all the time to help communicate with Iraq civilians and soldiers. Verdugo, however, memorized key Arabic phrases to get things going and to get civilian cooperation.

Starting as a Marine right after high school, Verdugo completed his Marine service and then joined the U.S. Army for a longer commitment.

[...]


Advertisements