Marine ready for duty helping hurricane victims

Lance Cpl. Julian Verduzco had armed forces gear strewn all over the

living room floor of the East Palmer Avenue home where he lives with

his mother and 9-year-old brother Tuesday afternoon.

With less than a day’s notice before departure, Verduzco hurried

to pack his helmet, first-aid kit, sleeping bag and uniform while

trying to tie up loose ends with friends and family.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” Verduzco said as the calls came into his

cellphone Tuesday.

At 5 a.m. this morning, the 20-year-old Marine embarked on a

relief effort mission for Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans.

He readied himself for the mission Tuesday in the company of his

little brother, who he picked up from school early so they could

spend time together.

“They called me [Tuesday], while I was in the shower,” he said,

adding that it had been only two days since he volunteered to be

deployed.

“Well, this is what I signed up for, right?” he said. “To help the

American people.”

Born in Burbank and raised in Glendale, Verduzco has been in the

Marines for a year and eight months, but this is the first deployment

mission he has been called up for, he said.

“I’m not really scared,” he said. “I knew this was going to come

at some point, since I joined in a time of war. It was either this,

Iraq or Afghanistan. But whatever it is, I’m prepared.”

Better he is deployed to New Orleans for relief efforts, than Iraq

for war efforts, his sister Judith Verduzco said.

“I’m glad he’s going,” she said. “I’m glad he’s being a support to

the situation. I support him all the way.

“There’s risks to any situation and he’s my little brother so of

course I’m going to be a little nervous, but I’m confident he’s

received the proper training.”

Julian Verduzco has had training in basic first aid and rescue

missions, so he is prepared for any task that may come his way, he

said, whether it be relief efforts, search and rescue or body

recovery, he said.

“In reality, I’ve never seen death before,” he said. “But

basically, we’re going over there to do whatever they need us to do.

I was really anxious when I signed up and now that I’m able to

actually go, I’m just thankful to God.”

Verduzco could be on assignment for as little as three months or

as long as nine months in the disaster-stricken region -- which will

put his work at Sears and his education at Valley College on hold.

But for Verduzco, the cause is worth it, he said.

“It’s devastating what happened to those people,” he said. “Those

people are losing their homes, losing their families. It’s horrible.

I just hope once we get out there, we can help them get their lives

together.

“I mean this gives us, American troops, an opportunity to help

those we signed up to protect.”