Family grateful for safe return of soldier son

Specialist Gregorio C. Cing of Tinian came home last Wednesday after spending over a year serving the U.S. Army in the Middle East. His safe return gave his family a sense of relief, taking a huge load off their minds.

Cing, 21, is the son of former senator David M. Cing and his wife, Daria C. Cing. He is a member of the 101st Airborne Division [Air Assault], which was deployed to the Middle East as part of the invasion of Iraq early last year.

He arrived at the Saipan International Airport and spent the day at his uncle’s residence before traveling to Tinian via the Tinian Express ferry.

He was greeted by members of his family, who gathered at the Cing residence on Tinian for a welcoming celebration.

“My friends, tonight as we gather here, we thank God for bringing Gregory home safely and we pray that those sons and daughters who are still in harm’s way will also return home safely to their families. May God bless us all,” the former senator said in a statement.

According to a family member—his uncle Isidro T. Cabrera—Cing will remain home for a little over a week from today, as he will next be stationed in South Korea.

Cing learned of his deployment to the Middle East through a letter received by his parents last Feb. 13, 2003.

“As a father and a citizen of the [U.S.], I understood the call of duty to our country,” the former senator said. “As the day drew closer for Gregory’s deployment, our anxiety grew as well.”

The former senator also revealed his inner thoughts and feelings upon learning of his son’s deployment.

“One late afternoon as I sat down to eat my lunch, the phone rang. My wife answered and started walking toward me with the phone, with tears rolling down her eyes. I froze and for a minute there, I thought this could be the last call from my son before he goes to battle. As I took the phone from my wife, I felt a lump in my throat and a feeling I never felt before. For the first time in my life, I was scared. I was so scared [that] I could not find any courageous words to tell my son. [And] at that very moment, I was thinking ‘If only I could replace my son, I would be the one to fulfill his duty to our country.’”

The former senator said his son’s deployment to Iraq affected his entire family.

“As the war intensified, our house became silent and no one talked to each other anymore, as if we did not know each other. Our house seemed so empty…only the sound and that voice on channel 5—CNN—is all you can hear 24 hours a day.”

Cabrera added that Gregory’s sister, Grace, is also serving in the Army and is currently stationed in South Korea. His youngest brother, Vincent, will leave for basic training on June 25. He is now a senior at Tinian High School.