I can remember my cousin Zachary Fulgenzi from a very young age. I'll never forget the time, at a family luncheon after a funeral; Zach and his brother Colin (about 6 and 4-years old at the time,) were restless and left the luncheon to play outside. It was apparently the first time Zach and Colin wore slip-on loafers on their feet. We all watched through the window as they stood in the small courtyard outside the banquet room, seeing who could kick a shoe the highest. They had no idea about 150-people were watching them. We all watch calmly, until Zach kicked his shoe so high, it landed on the roof of the banquet facility, which brought a roar of laughter from all of us (except his mom and dad.)

A few years later I recall being in charge of "games" at our family reunion. Of course, Zach and Colin kept a few leftover water balloons from the "water balloon-toss game", and as I was passing out prizes, they nailed me in the back with a few. They were about 12 and 10-years old at the time, and although I tried to catch them, they ran circles around me ... the little bas*%#&$!!!! I remember them taunting me, and I promised them I would get even.

My chance came a few years later at our annual family football game. I called their dad, Vince (that's right I have a real "Cousin Vinny,") and asked if his boys were coming. Vince laughed and said they were, in fact, going to play football. I asked him to tell he boys, it's payback time.

The boys were in high school at the time, it was November of 2004. I smacked them around for a few hours as they charged off the line and I could see they didn't want to be hit any longer. After the game we all laughed and they agreed, payback was a bitch.

We went for pizza after the game and I brought out all the souvenirs from my trip to Iraq earlier in the year. The three of us sat at the end of the table as they asked me question after question. I really became attached to these kids that day. I could sense "Love of Country" from them as they looked at the photos of us with troops. I could tell they were growing into awesome young men.

After high school, Zach enlisted into the US Army.

A year ago, he was home on "leave" over the Christmas Holidays. We all got together and rented a bowling alley. The Army had molded Zach into a hulk of a man; huge chest and arms. He threw the ball so hard I think the pins actually fell down by them self, before the ball hit them, out of fear! He won "best bowler" and I'm not sure how many strikes he missed, but it wasn't many.

Zach and I talked a while about Iraq and that's when he informed me he is a "bomb defusing specialist." I was shocked, I asked him, "Zach ... how about computers or communications ... a bomb defuser????" Zach said he wanted to get into the fight.

I received an email the other day from Zach's dad, my cousin Vince; it read; "Zachary Fulgenzi, US Army, is now deployed in Baghdad, Iraq."

Zach is based at Camp Liberty, in the "green zone." Liberty was actually part of Camp Victory when I was there last, Camp Victory is a former palace of Saddam Hussein.

I zipped off an email to Zach and he responded ...

Zach writes:

Hey Joe~

Hope all is well? I wanted to first of all say "thank you" for all the support you have given so far, especially so early in the game. Secondly I want to tell you I have arrived in Baghdad last week, sorry it has taken a while to respond. Anyways I will speak to my command and ask how much I can reveal to your readers about our mission over here. It requires a top secret clearance and "need to know" information only, I will keep your readers posted as to the "real story" and what a great job our guys are doing over here. 

I  am really glad to here you and your band will be over here in the summer, I looking forward to seeing some familiar faces over here.

Thank God I am not in a tent right now. My living quarters look like a really small trailer in a huge trailer park. haha! I have one of my team members in the "hooch" with me and my team leader is right next door, so we are a pretty tight group over hear. 

I look forward to staying in contact with you, and thanks again so much, for everything and especially all the support!

Love, ur cuz ... Zach

You can email Zach at: zachary.fulgenzi@us.army.mil

You can write to him and send him a few goodies, if you'd like at:

Zachary Fulgenzi
731st ORD CO (EOD)
Camp Liberty, Iraq
APO AE 09344

I want to thank Pat, Mac, Susan and Lisa at Yellow Ribbon Support Group for sending Zach a "care package" this morning. I love you for all you do for our troops. Visit them at www.yellowribbonsg.org

 

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