LCPL Gorlewski takes part in humanitarian mission in the Phillipines

A Rogers City serviceman, who has been in the U.S. Marines for more than a year, recently took part in a humanitarian mission with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Lance Corporal Tyler Gorlewski, son of Jeff and Rose Gorlewski, took part in an operation to transport five ambulances to the southern island of Zamboanga in the Phillipines. Project Handclasp, which is a story that received national media attention, was initiated by the 3P (Promotion of Peace and Prosperity in the Phillipines) USA Foundation, a Seattle-based, non-governmental agency which purchased 14 Ford F350 ambulances, so the ambulances could be donated to places throughout the Philippines an the effort to bring better medical supplies and capabilities to the more disadvantaged provinces. Five of the ambulances were loaded onto a landing craft utility for transport to the USS Harpers Ferry Oct. 18 so they can be further transported to Zamboanga and later distributed among the southern provinces.

GORLEWSKI IS a gunner in the weapons platoon of the 1st Battalion/5th unit, Bravo Company. He has been a Marine since graduating from boot camp near San Diego last fall. He had wanted to become a Marine since he was seven, said Rose. ?He loved the war movies and always wanted to be a Marine.? In high school, there were incentives from other branches of the military dangled in front of him, but he stayed with his boyhood dream. He went into the Marines with his friend Matt Tomas of Rogers City when both graduated in 2005. The two Marine recruits were promised they would be together through 14 weeks at the Marine Corps. Recruit Depot, but were separated anyway. They saw each other on Sunday mornings at church. It has worked out a lot better since both young men have been deployed to the marine base in Japan. They are now in camps that are separated by about the time it takes to travel one way to Cheboygan.

GORLEWSKI IS enlisted for four years, but the Marines have an option on another four, said Jeff Gorlewski. With one life long dream coming true, Rose said Tyler?s next goal is to get a criminal justice degree and become a Michigan state trooper. Gorlewski will continue his tour in Japan until the end of the year and probably be back in the states in January before further training, and possible deployment, to Iraq. ?He knows he?ll be in Iraq,? said Rose Gorlewski. Tyler celebrated his 20th birthday November 7th, and after six weeks of no contact, an emotional, but relieved Rose Gorlewski received a call from her son that morning. She had a feeling a call would come that day.

SHE SAID the wait to hear from him was difficult. The experience inspired the mother of five to write a poem last month. What she penned last month follows:

The Marine

Hey you, wherever have you been?

Hey you, do you remember where and when?

Hey you, if by some chance you forgot.

Rest assured as your mother I have not.

You see, I know why you went,

You didn?t sit around and wait,

Uncle Sam didn?t have you sent.

You took the commitment,

To join your brothers at arms.

You never gave a second thought,

That you could come to harm.

You see, son, a mother?s love is true.

You are in my thoughts and prayers,

No matter where you are or what you do.

If at any time you can?t remember

Or maybe just forgot,

Look in the mirror, son, you will see,

A very precious gift, God has given me.

In this time of danger, a Marine is

what you are.

You made a promise to protect and serve

Nations from afar.

You have always had our love, son,

As a Marine you deserve one?s respect.

I know you will give them all you have.

You were taught to give no less.

So if at any time you hesitate,

Because what some will say.

The words ?I love you mom and dad,?

Are in our hearts to stay.

We will never forget, we will never deny.

You will never have to wonder,

We will never question why.

We love you with all our hearts, son.

You can take this to be true.

Our nation counts on men just like you.

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