Feature Profile: Hector Correa: The Pact, the present and the future
Many of us can recall where we were and what we were doing Sept. 11, 2001. But for one Citrus College student veteran the event on that day changed his life.
16 years ago, his best friend’s mother died in the collapse of the Twin Towers.
Photo by: Richard Gonzalez
Hector Correa, 31, Kinesiology major, poses in front of the service flags in the Veteran’s Success Center at Citrus College.
Hector Correa, now a 31 year old kinesiology major at Citrus College, was a freshman in high school when he and his best friend made a pact to join the military.
Correa, a resident of West Covina, met John Smith, who was asked that his real real name not be used, when they were in elementary school. They spent a lot of time at each other’s houses and played baseball together.
They even talked about joining the military, but prior to the attack it wasn’t a priority.
“We were going to go to college and all that stuff first,” Correa said. “The usual. Get jobs, families, didn’t really think of the military life.”
All that changed on 9/11. They were sitting in their freshman English class when Smith received a phone call from his father. Smith’s mother had go to New York for work and was in one of the Towers he said.
“… We had no other information. It went on like that for days. We didn’t know anything,” Correa said, who described her as like a second mother.
Finally they received confirmation that Smith’s mother had died, along with 2,977 other victims.
This was hard on Correa because he and Smith had been best friends and Smith’s mother was like a second mother to Correa.
“Once we found out that we actually lost her, then that’s when we were, all right, we are going to do something about this,” Correa said. “We were going to do what we can even if it we don’t make a difference, at least we can say we tried.”
When Correa and Smith graduated from high school in 2005, they decided to join the Marines on the buddy program which friends can be stationed together. They ended up joining the Marines in May of 2006. Correa and Smith were stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside. After about eight months of training and Correa deployed to the Middle East. Correa served a total of eights years in the Marines and deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
In Afghanistan, Correa was sweeping for mines when an improvised explosive device blew up. The blast tore all the ligaments in his legs. Correa was medically retired from the Marines. Prior to joining the Marines, Correa describe himself as an outgoing person. Like many service members, Correa’s military experience made him more aware, cautious, and isolated.
The transition to civilian life has been difficult. Correa was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
“I wasn’t there at the time, I have experienced how it has affected him today. He continues to struggle from day to day and his disabilities are the proof that shows for it,” said his wife Stephanie Correa
Eventually, Correa decided to enroll at Citrus College to acquire an education and plan for their future.
“I was getting old and it was hard to find work. No skills translated into civilian life,” Correa said.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Correa
Correa served for eight years in the Marines as a combat engineer. He was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
“When I met him, he was kind of shy. He wasn’t really approachable actually. He has changed a lot,” Danny Jimenez said, who is a friend and fellow Marine.
Jimenez met Correa in Counseling 161, a class that assists veterans with the transition to college.
“It has been over a year since I met him and he’s super chill now. He has opened up more,” Jimenez said.
Correa spends more time in the Veteran Success Center, which he had never really done before, and a lot of people talk to him because of his service dog.
Monica Christianson, Ph. D, the Veterans Success Center director, described Correa as a quiet, compassionate and respectful person.
“He has grown more confident and friendly. He has grown to interact with others. His student skills have improved,” Christianson said.
Correa said he does not have any regrets about joining the military. When he’s not attending classes, he enjoys working out, staying healthy, and staying active by playing sports with his family. Correa’s friend Smith, is also out of the military. He just had a newborn and is just working and “living life.” He too was also was diagnosed with PTSD. Smith is working and living life.
They did make a difference with their military service and are moving on to make an impact on all the people they encounter.
