A Caledonia family celebrated the homecoming visit of their son, brother and hero, Sergeant Shawn Gianforte, United States Marine Corps. The family hosted a party in his honor on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at the Matthew Cleary Post 255 American Legion Home. Marine Sergeant Gianforte, a machine gun section leader with the Bravo Company, 1st Division, 8th Battalion, returned to his home in Jacksonville, North Carolina in January 2005 after completing his second tour of duty in Iraq. His first tour, from March to October 2003, was at the beginning of the United States and Allied Forces combat offensive in Iraq. His six-month stay took him to the city of Mosul where Operation Iraqi Freedom was organizing and insurgents were fiercely resisting. In June 2004, Gianforte was redeployed to Iraq, this time to the cities of Haditha and Fallujah. As he gathered among family and friends at the party, Gianforte took time to talk about the situation in Iraq and compared conditions from his first tour to the more recent. He says he has witnessed much progress in Iraq, pointing to the successful recent elections there. Depending on the location in Iraq, Gianforte says much of the country is more peaceful, there is less insurgent activity and the Iraqi civilians are more supportive of the United States military presence in their country. "Even the Iraqis that aren’t pleased with the U.S. presence in their country, admit that they need us to be there," the Marine Sergeant explained. Gianforte believes the country will rebuild and be a better place for all Iraqis to live, however, he admits, it’s going to take time. He says he won’t rule out a third tour of duty in Iraq depending on how long the U.S. military remains there. If that happens, Gianforte says he will be ready to go. "Safety depends on where you are in Iraq. We take care of each other. I know I’ve got this guy on my left and this guy on my right. I’m okay," Gianforte said of his part in the War in Iraq. A 1994 graduate of Caledonia-Mumford High School, the Sergeant says as a young boy he was influenced by the popular action figure, G.I. Joe, and wanted to be just like him. He married his high school sweetheart, Lisa O’Hearn Gianforte, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. directly after graduation. His first tour of duty came in 1996 when he was deployed to Okinawa, Japan and then to Guam where he was part of a humanitarian effort assisting Kurdish refugees from Iraq. "It’s (the Marine Corps) made me grow up so much. You don’t really have a choice, it’s going to make you grow up," he commented. Marine Sergeant Gianforte, his wife and three year old daughter Zoie will return next week to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where Lisa’s job is to assist and support the other Marine wives that are dealing with their husband’s absence. She says that keeps her busy, along with caring for their daughter, and helps her deal with her own husband’s absence. "I know it’s his job," Lisa said of her husband’s service in Iraq. Gianforte’s mother, Gail, says she will always worry, but she has found ways to better handle her son being in harm’s way. "You say a lot of prayers," says the Marine Mom. Gianforte says he will make the Marines his career. "The people you work with and the bonds that you make, you won’t find in the civilian world," said the Sergeant.
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