Afghanistan

Editor's note: Lance Cpl. Christopher Robert Perkins, a 2003 graduate of Estancia High School in Costa Mesa, sent the Daily Pilot a brief account of his duties and experiences as a Marine helicopter maintenance worker currently in Afghanistan with the HMH-363 unit. Perkins says he misses the Orange County Fair and would rather be there now than in the "dirt" in Afghanistan. He joined the Marines in March 2008, and recently ran into a 2004 Estancia High graduate, Cpl. Ian Paul Morton, on base.

Turning a dream into reality is seldom a smooth course. That's what members of the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team are learning in their quixotic quest to come to the United States to train and prepare for their unlikely bid to compete in the Olympics. When I wrote about the team last fall, plans were underway for a visit to Southern California so players could learn from the deep reservoir of water polo talent in the region. Their itinerary was to include a lengthy stopover in Newport Beach, where they planned to practice at the Corona del Mar High School pool, and learn from local players and coaches.

 Cpl. Kurt Shea, USMC, 21 of Frederick, MD, died Monday, May 17, 2010 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Kurt was a radio operator assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, NC. Kurt had 2 more weeks to finish his 2nd tour of duty in Afghanistan before he came home. Kurt was active in his community from a young age, he led his high school wrestling team to the state championships, volunteered at a local animal shelter, was an officer of the Future Farmers of America and the Maryland Demolay Society.

Paul Clinton COSTA MESA -- As a die-hard cold warrior in the Reagan White House, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher saw Afghanistan as a crucial battleground in the fight against the spread of communism. Rohrabacher, whose district includes Costa Mesa, unblinkingly supported the funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars a year in aid to moujahedeen rebels at odds with Soviet invaders. But once the war was over -- the Soviets limped out of the country in 1989 after a decade of losses -- our country's government stopped writing the fat checks.

Sending 30,000 more combat troops to Afghanistan will not make us any safer. Focusing a strategy around the central government in Kabul will not work, especially with a government as corrupt as the Karzai regime. Sending more American combat troops into Afghanistan just means more of those troops will be doing more of the fighting instead of the Afghans themselves, who are more than willing to defend themselves as long as there are given the resources to do so. I expected President Obama to be a little more hesitant before buying into the same failed strategies, however, I am disappointed because he has come up with nothing new or creative.

55, Huntington Beach ... 45th District congressman since 1988 ... Regarded as Congress' leading expert on Afghanistan, due to his numerous trips to the country ... "My in-depth knowledge of Afghanistan was put to work in a really important way" ... Has joined hawkish Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) in pushing for military action against Saddam Hussein and Iraq ... Swam with sharks (reef tip, not Washington, D.C. style) on a late-August dive at Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific ... Avid surfer and scuba diver who is married to Rhonda, his former political aide ... Last year's ranking: 43

Deirdre Newman WESTSIDE -- When Pomona Elementary Principal Julie McCormick suggested her students raise money for the children of Afghanistan, she wasn't sure what to expect. Since the school has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, McCormick kept the effort optional and just asked for the donation of spare change. McCormick was duly impressed by the response. Her students collected more than $600 in about a week's time -- mostly in $1 to $2 increments.

Q: I just retired from the military after 20 years (including tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan), but now that I'm out, I can't find a job. No one seems to appreciate the skills I learned as a soldier. I don't know why I'm writing, but maybe you could pray that I won't give up. — F.R. A: Thank you for your letter — and thank you for your service to our country. We live in dangerous times, and we should be praying not only for our nation's leaders, but also for all those who are working to bring a greater measure of peace to our world.

As a nurse for 25 years, caring had always been a part of Mary Anne Bane's personality, so helping service members in Afghanistan comes instinctively. For the seventh year, Bane, along with 10 other Costa Mesa seniors, put together care packages at Bethel Towers on Saturday for five soldiers in Afghanistan. "I just felt like it was time to do something," Bane said. "And this is our way of showing our support. We're seniors and we don't have a lot of money, but when you put it all together, our [care]

Turning a dream into reality is seldom a smooth course. That's what members of the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team are learning in their quixotic quest to come to the United States to train and prepare for their unlikely bid to compete in the Olympics. When I wrote about the team last fall, plans were underway for a visit to Southern California so players could learn from the deep reservoir of water polo talent in the region. Their itinerary was to include a lengthy stopover in Newport Beach, where they planned to practice at the Corona del Mar High School pool, and learn from local players and coaches.

Two films dealing with war and politics in the tinderbox of the Middle East are coming to Newport-Mesa for one-night special screenings. The city of Costa Mesa on Friday night will host a screening of "Patrol Base Jaker" at the Triangle Square Cinemas. The documentary, directed by David Scantling, follows the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Battalion, 5th Marines — otherwise known as the "1/5" — during a 2009-10 deployment to Afghanistan. The group is the city's adopted military unit.

Cue the heart-stirring music, and imagine the following set-up: An adversity-stricken group of young people from an impoverished, war-ravaged nation yearns for a source of meaning and accomplishment for themselves, and a point of pride for their countrymen. An idealistic military man from a far-off land dedicates himself to bringing the group together and giving wing to its unlikely dream. Half a world away, another military man hears of the intrepid group, and rallies a community to lend support.

Good intentions have some flaws ("'Loud' ordinance announcement coming Thursday," June 23). This ordinance obviously was already in effect on Balboa Island a few weeks ago. A very nice family owns a home on the island and also "rents" a big, famous bayfront home and is very active with local sports and community functions. All in one weekend, a graduation celebration of adults was "busted" from that one "neighbor" complaint before 11 p.m. (were they "renters"?). So one police visit and one warning.

COSTA MESA — A Costa Mesa man accused of murdering his neighbor for financial gain and killing his neighbor's tutor is set to appear in court Friday, according to court documents. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Daniel Wozniak, 27, who is accused of killing Afghanistan veteran Samuel Herr, 26, and Juri "Julie" Kibuishi, 23, last year. Wozniak, a community theater actor, has pleaded not guilty. He is set to appear at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

ANAHEIM — It wasn't enough for anyone here Saturday to just give Costa Mesa native Daniel Foster a round of applause when he was awarded the U.S. Army's Silver Star medal before the Angels game Saturday night. No, after thousands inside Angel Stadium gave him a standing ovation before the game, team officials made sure he met the hometown players in their dugout. Then the coach took Foster to meet the umpires and the Toronto Blue Jays manager when they exchanged lineups. Standing along the dugout fence, Foster had a front-row seat for second baseman Howie Kendrick's first-inning home run. Kendrick made a point to give Foster a high five after rounding the bases.

Camp Pendleton Marines, who will soon be deployed to Afghanistan, are to be honored at a formal mess night at the Balboa Bay Club Thursday night, an event organizer said. The Newport Beach 1/1 Marine Foundation, which raises money for and reaches out to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and the Marine Corps unit's families will host the formal mess night and fundraiser, said Homer Bludau, a former Newport Beach city manager who is the foundation's president. The city adopted the "1/1" as a military unit in 2003.

NEWPORT BEACH — Marine Cpl. Alfonso Palacios has a tattoo on his left forearm depicting tombstones in memory of servicemen killed during a seven-month tour in Afghanistan. The 24-year-old Afghan War veteran said he lost four buddies who were "really close" to him. His friend, Army Spc. Deon L. Taylor, 30, of the Bronx, was killed Oct. 22, 2008, by a roadside bomb while driving his vehicle in Bala Baluk, Afghanistan. "Losing friends over there, that's the worse part," said Palacios, who comes from Los Angeles.