[ WAR IN IRAQ ]
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Jason Mamac's family, including nephew Armando Lopez, wife Claudia Mamac, daughter Avigail and son Joseph gathered in Maili.
Father, son, Daily e-mails from Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Mamac to his wife, Claudia, help ease her fears about her husband's safety while he is on duty in the Persian Gulf.
sailor: War duty
challenges family
Relatives of a man from
Hawaii hope for his safe return
from the war with IraqBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com"It seems like he's right there. It helps me know that he's safe."
His mom, Penny Mamac, has a recent photo of her son next to her computer at Palama Meat Co., where she is a meat buyer.
"I can't work without looking at him," she said.
Jason Mamac, 29, is serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Since the U.S.-led war against Iraq started, Claudia said she has had her "ups and downs."
"I wish that he was here. Especially when I see a couple walking down the street, that's when I really miss him," said Claudia, a Spanish teacher at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School.
Claudia said she is saddened when her 2-year-old daughter Avigail says, "I want my daddy back," when she hears talk of the war.
"I try to explain to her that daddy is coming back," Claudia said.
After her husband deployed to the Persian Gulf, Claudia posted a picture of him on their computer screen saver.
COURTESY PHOTO
Jason Mamac poses next to a fighter jet aboard the USS Constellation.
"She totally hugs the computer," Claudia said of Avigail.
Her 8-year-old son, Joseph, however, had a difficult time at first dealing with his father's involvement in the war because he associated the war with death.
"He thought his dad was going to die," Claudia said.
Claudia explained to her son that his father is surrounded by thousands of military personnel that are doing their best to protect each other.
"We play Battleship all the time to make him understand that other ships are protecting the ship that his dad is on," she added.
Penny Mamac of Maili avoids watching TV news as much as possible, as it reminds her of the dangers her son faces.
"We were watching it day and night. It was just too much," she said.
"I don't like to see the boys getting hurt and the weather they're going through," Penny said. "It's only going to get worse. That's what scares me."
Family members try to carry on with their daily routines.
"We just go on and live our lives as normal as possible even though he's on our thoughts constantly," Penny said.
Jason's father, Albert Mamac, says taking care of the yard and his grandchildren helps relieve the stress of knowing his son is fighting a war.
"I'm kind of worried about his safety ... Every time I think about the war, that's what really gets me sometimes," he said.
But the retired tour bus driver says the e-mails he receives several times a week from his son help.
The Mamacs send care packages filled with Spam, corned beef and mochi crunch to Jason while hoping for his quick and safe return.
And Penny Mamac says while she worries about her son, she is comforted knowing he has other sailors from Hawaii to talk to.
There are several Hawaii-bred sailors also serving aboard the Constellation.
Jason Mamac, a 1992 graduate of Campbell High School, told the Associated Press, "We are like a big family, we look out for one another."
He said getting together helps pass the time takes their minds off what is going on in the world.
"The local boys back each other up," said his mom.
"They always supported each other."
Hawaii military links and information
