Trustees thank 2 for service in Iraq

During the police officer's tour in Iraq, 48 Marines in his battalion were killed.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- The community welcomed two members of the township's safety forces who have returned from active duty in Iraq.
Patrol Officer David Carr, a Marine reservist who was wounded in action, and firefighter/paramedic Raymond Cornicelli were lauded during the trustees' Wednesday meeting.
"They left their families and went to fight a war," said township Trustee Rick Clark, who along with members of their family, police and fire departments and veterans thanked them "for answering the call."
Both are sergeants. Carr serves with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment headquartered in Akron, while Cornicelli is a member of the C Company, 216th Engineer Battalion in Austintown.
Clark said it doesn't matter what people feel about the war, "we thank them for their service."
"We salute you and thank you for what you have done for us," Clark stressed.
Trustee Richard Orwig, commander of American Legion Post 700, added, "You are now and will always be heroes for putting yourselves in harm's way."
Their duties
Carr, 34, and his wife, Jennifer, have a 3-year-old daughter, Sydney. He joined the police department in 1992 and reserves in 1999.
Carr served with a mobile assault platoon stationed in the Haditha Corridor northwest of Baghdad near the Syrian border.
Carr was in charge of four Humvees. The unit's mission was to maintain security on roads, escort convoys and "pick up targets of high value."
"We had a lot of firepower," Carr said of his platoon.
On June 29, Carr was riding in a Humvee when the vehicle was blown up, damaging his eardrum and earning him the Purple Heart.
During his yearlong tour, 48 Marines in his battalion were killed, including six snipers over three days and another 14 when insurgents blew up an amphibious vehicle.
Carr said he will remain in the reserves despite his experience.
On the other hand, Cornicelli is getting out.
The 41-year-old firefighter and his wife, Georgan, have two sons, Andy, 14, and Alex, 11. He wants to devote more time to his family, and he's eligible for retirement in February after 20 years of service.
"I'm getting a little older and a little slower. A year was long enough," Cornicelli said of his Iraq experience.
Cornicelli was stationed north of Tikrit. He was an assistant squad leader and did construction work on military bases and built checkpoints to protect the troops.
Cornicelli termed his tour "eye-opening." He recalled seeing locals and children who smiled at him to "players who made you nervous."
yovich@vindy.com