EDITOR’S NOTE: Hometown Heroes is a recurring feature in the Plant City Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Michael Eng by email at meng@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at (813) 704-6850.
It wasn’t a normal Christmas break last December, for Justin Galeno.
While other high school students were looking forward to sleeping in and drinking hot chocolate, Galeno was getting in shape and eating right.
And instead being excited to receive presents, Galeno offered himself up to the service of his country.
Galeno left Plant City High School for Christmas break as a United States civilian. He returned as an enlisted U.S. Marine.
“I honestly wanted to make a difference in someone’s life and thought that would be a way to do it,” the high school senior said. “The Marines are the toughest and also the most professional. They win (the) country’s battles and are the most efficient.”
After making the trip Dec. 18, to the Marines’ Tampa processing center, Galeno signed the papers and was sworn in with just four others.
“That’s when I realized the Marines were the few and the proud,” Galeno said. “This was one of the best moments of my life — raising my hand to swear in. I want to give back to America what it’s given to me.”
Many of Galeno’s friends didn’t know of his decision. When he returned to classes in January, they sensed something different about the 17-year-old. He was more disciplined. He dressed more professionally. He did everything with care.
“They could see a change in my life, and so could I,” Galeno said. “They were surprised and supportive when I told them I joined.”
CAMARADERIE
Just like Galeno’s Christmas break, his summer will be vastly different from the hoards of graduating high school seniors, who get a few months to relax before going to college.
“I definitely won’t be spending it on the beach,” Galeno said, jokingly.
Galeno will leave for boot camp July 15, spending 13 weeks at Paris Island, in South Carolina.
“I’ve heard so many things about boot camp,” Galeno said. “It’s going to be one of the toughest challenges of my life.”
But Galeno has had some help preparing from one of his best friends, Kyle Hargroves. Hargroves left for boot camp last August, and has been in the Marines for nine months.
“He’s helped me a lot through all the mental strengths and weakness in my mind,” Galeno said. “Just the doubt you have to get through.”
Galeno, who works as an after-school teacher with Kyle’s mother, Annisa, at Walden Lake Early Learning Center, was watching Hargroves’ every step during the first months of his enlistment.
“He reminds me a lot of Kyle,” Annisa said. “He’s an all-around good kid. Justin has been there for me since Kyle was gone, and Kyle’s been there for Justin. He can’t wait to be a Marine.
“The kids love him,” she said of the learning center students. “There’s one little boy who says, almost every day, to his mother that Justin is his hero.”
BECOMING A HERO
Galeno’s goal is to be a hero.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a superhero,” Galeno said. “I believe this is one of the most realistic ways to become one.”
Since his freshman year of high school, Galeno began contemplating the idea of enlisting. When Hargroves left in August for boot camp, Galeno knew he wanted the same thing.
His family was surprised.
Galeno is the first in his family to enlist in the military. His family thought all those childhood years of playing like a soldier was just Galeno being a boy. Regardless, his parents, Noemi and Robert, and older brothers, Robert and Brian, are supportive.
“They’re very proud of me,” Galeno said. “I can tell they’re a little bit nervous but excited for the decision.”
After boot camp, Galeno hopes to get a job in communications, specifically a field radio operator. As a radio operator, Galeno would work with ground units to call in for support and medics.
“There’s a part of me that’s nervous, but there’s a greater side of me that knows I’m going to step into the boots of a Marine,” Galeno said. “It will be one of the biggest changes of my life. It will be one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.