Sand To Surf (And Back Again)!Special Feature – April 4, 2008My name is Anthony Gary Ricci, and I joined the Army in January 2005. I am currently a Sergeant in the United States Army deployed in Iraq. I entered Iraq on September 15, 2006. I am on a personal security detachment (PSD) for a one-star General and a Command Sergeant Major. My job is a 240 Bravo gunner for a convoy of Humvees. I’m originally from San Jose, California. In December 2006 while searching on the net for a destination to surf for my mid-tour leave, I found Pohnpei Surf Club in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). It became my priority, focus, and dream that kept me sane in Iraq. However, I did not have any equipment to ride waves...any of it. When the time came on March 19, 2007, for my leave window and my birthday on the same, I ended up going to Maui and Kona to visit family and friends. All the while, I was thinking of Pohnpei and the regret of not going. When I returned back to Iraq, I saw footage of the boys performing in waves in Pohnpei. The place was beautiful, and the waves were perfect. I could not wait anymore to go. Having said that, I now yearned to surf in Pohnpei, no matter the cost.
I extended my stay in Iraq beyond a 365-day tour to make it a total of 21
months so that I might provide direction and assistance to the next team of
PSD members. I had assumed that I was entitled to another mid-tour leave and
was advised that I wasn’t. December 2007 rolled around the corner, and
I had to keep haggling to get another leave date. Upon the arrival of my 18-month
mark in Iraq on the date of March 15th, I was finally granted leave. I
worked out all the details of my dream to surf on the island of Pohnpei with HenryMorales@WaveHunters.com and
off I went. I flew from Iraq and arrived on Pohnpei. When I arrived, it all
came together to perfection by the professionalism of Allois Maltifani of the
Pohnpei Surf Club (PSC). Within minutes of arrival at the airport and a quick
boat ride I was surfing. The staff here in Pohnpei is unbelievable, and everything
worked out with no problem. The waves were good and the barrels were
picture perfect and are locked in my mind. The fishing is bountiful, the food
is excellent and the staff @ PSC and the locals of FSM made this trip a once
in a lifetime event for me, and I will return!! This was the last e-mail I got from Sgt. Anthony Ricci before he left the Pohnpei International Airport (Federated States of Micronesia). He could have gone anywhere else in the world: visit his family again, go party or just go somewhere closer to his base or home but I think Pohnpei was supposed to become a part of his life.
When I saw him at the airport, I didn't think he was the person I was looking for, one because he did not bring a surfboard (no surf shops in Iraq) and second because after so many arrival date changes and stops around the world, neither he nor I knew exactly what day he was arriving. Surfboards were not a problem. He had plenty to pick from our surfboard rack to use while in Pohnpei. He also enjoyed the fishing, the cold beer, the good food, friends he made, & the long nights at the Rusty Anchor, Flamingo and Lava Java for Karaoke. Tonight is his last night in Pohnpei. Anthony is going straight back
to Iraq. Allois Malfitani, President, Pohnpei Surf Club, Federated States of
Micronesia |