Navyman thinks of West Texas family during holidays

Despite a successful 18-year Navy career so far, Petty Officer Ignacio Tercero still misses his family stateside, especially during the holidays.

“Although we miss our families, we can be proud to be serving our country,” he said. “Being the only child in the family that joined the military was a heartbreak for my mother.”

From somewhere in the Pacific, however, the military still celebrates the holidays.

Tercero, 38, said being with the men on the USS George Washington for so long creates a family-like atmosphere, and it sometimes even causes them to forget they miss their blood relatives.

But celebrations for Thanksgiving and Christmas are done the same as stateside celebrations – with food and friends.

Tercero was born in Mexico and grew up in Marathon, graduating from Marathon High School in 1991. He then moved to Fort Stockton and shortly after joined the Navy.

As a legalman on the USS George Washington, Tercero has been on the ship for almost two years out of the three years in his current tour. He said he is excited to get home and spend some time with his children, wife and maybe even make a trip out to Fort Stockton and Marathon, his hometown. But he lives in Yokosuka, Japan, the ship’s home port, when he is not aboard the USS George Washington.

“When I get back home on leave, I typically go back home to West Texas to hang out with my family and friends,” Tercero said. “The first thing I want to do is give a big hug to my parents, my mom and dad. We’re a pretty close family.”

But despite missing his stateside family, he said he has had many great experiences in the Navy, including the many cultures he is able to experience and the discipline and training he has gone through while in the military.

Tercero also said he and many of the other Texans on board the USS Washington have been able to bring a little of the Lone Star State to the rest of the sailors.

“We do have a lot of Texans on board and we believe we bring a level of hospitality that sets us apart,” he said.

Part of that hospitality includes making enchiladas during the holidays, Tercero said.

When he’s not spreading the Texan spirit around the ship, he said he works in the legal office, which is like a district attorney’s office at sea.

The office helps administrate the military justice system, and through his work in the office he has gained experience as a paralegal, court reporter and other various skills, he said.

Tercero said he is up for a promotion soon, and if he is selected for the promotion he will make the Navy a career.

If not, he said he must retire at the 20-year mark and will look into a legal profession or earn a business degree and start a business in West Texas.

Tercero’s wife Graciela Tercero, and three sons, Marc Anthony Tercero, 9, Ricardo Miguel Tercero 4, and Christian Moraby Tercero, 3, live in Yokosuka, Japan.

“Happy holidays to the Permian Basin from somewhere in the Pacific,” Ignacio Tercero said.