Firefighting Instructor Back From IA Duty

The Los Angeles, California-resident spent his time in Al-Asad, Iraq, just west of Baghdad.

"I volunteered to go," he said. "I went for the experience and the FMF, Fleet Marine Force, pin. Normally a [Hospital] Corpsman or RP [Religious Program Specialist] will have it. You have to be stationed with Marines. I wanted the experience of being able to travel and I learned a lot about the Marine Corps. I met a lot of good people."

Normally a Shipboard Firefighting Instructor and LPO at the Firefighting School, Bldg. 1888. Here, he teaches Sailors how to respond in an emergency. In Baghdad, Romant said he served as a building project manager, acting as liasons between local Iraqi contractors and their military customers.

Although it took a little getting used to - especially having to read blue prints - Romant said his experience as a carpenter before entering the Navy in 1990 helped him through it.

"Bein there made me really appreciate being an American," he said. "It is great to be back. Being over there - seeing the way the people live. They had very little. It made me realize how much we have here. It was an experience you can't read in books. If I had to do it again, I would. My wife and family supported me the whole time and that really helped."

Romant attended boot camp in Great Lakes before tranferring to Groton, Conneticut and La Madeleina, Italy. From there, he reported to USS Warrior (MCM 10) in Ingleside, Texas. He was stationed aboard USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51), homeported in Pascagoula, Mississippi, during Hurricane Katrina and decommissioned the ship after it did a homeport shift to Mayport in 2006.

Romant is married to Sylvia and has four children: Ben, 20, Chris, 18, Nanners, 16 and Pat, 15.