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What concerns Michael and Catherine Giacobbe the most are Saddam Hussein’s unconventional methods of warfare.
One of the latest in the dictator’s ever-expanding arsenal of dirty attacks occurred just days before their son, Army First Lt. Matt Giacobbe, was deployed to Kuwait. A hysterical pregnant Iraqi woman stepped out of a car at a U.S. checkpoint just before the car blew up — killing herself, the driver and three American soldiers.
The April 3 bombing was the second suicide attack on coalition forces since the war began.
"Saddam is fighting a war in a cowardly fashion," Michael Giacobbe said. "There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. He is truly being a terrorist in that not only is he terrorizing the soldiers over there who are in the line of fire, but he’s terrorizing his own people. He’s putting his own people in harm’s way."
Catherine also is nervous about the enemy’s sneak tactics, but remains confident that her stepson’s street smarts will sustain him for the long road ahead.
As a police lieutenant with South Detective Division and a former Army man, Michael Giacobbe has certainly seen his share of violence. And so has Catherine, an ER nurse at St. Agnes Medical Center. But it’s different when your loved one is in the line of fire.
Michael and Catherine got the call in the middle of the night on April 7. It was their eldest son telling them it was his time to join Operation Iraqi Freedom, otherwise known as The War.
Matt, 25, serves with the 104th Military Intelligence Battalion assigned to the Fourth Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
Up until he enlisted, Matt lived at home with his father, stepmom and younger brother, Shawn, 21, on the 2300 block of South Woodstock Street.
Shawn is now following in his older brother’s footsteps. The Dickinson College junior is majoring in psychology, as did Matt, and is enrolled in the Army ROTC program.
The brothers grew up at Second and Porter streets and attended St. John Neuman High, where Matt graduated with honors in 1996.
"Neumann was a positive influence on both boys," Michael noted. He credits the school with helping to shape his sons into the fine young men they are today. Whenever Matt comes home to South Philly, he always visits his teachers at Neuman, Michael added.
Matt earned a degree in psychology from Dickinson College. He enlisted in the Army in November 2000 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. From there, it was on to Officers’ Candidate School — also in Georgia — after which Matt was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Most recently, Matt attended Army Intelligence School in Fort Huachuaca, Ariz.
An avid outdoorsman and hunter, Matt is a third-generation fly fisherman, his father proudly noted. His son would spend summers in Virginia, working during the day and surfing the Barrier Islands off the coast during his time off.
Asked to describe her stepson, Catherine is at no loss for words. Smart, very compassionate, intelligent, chivalrous and funny are a few of the adjectives that spring forth. Oh, and he’s a great cook, too.
"He’s a wonderful young man. Just a real pleasure to be around. He’s just very special. We are blessed — we have four great kids," she said.
Catherine has two daughters from a previous marriage.
The week Matt left for Kuwait, his stepmother was a self-described mess — "crying and hurting." The day after he shipped out, she sent him two packages. More are on the way.
These days, Catherine wears a yellow ribbon pinned under a small American flag. A woman at a local pharmacy stopped her and asked if she had someone in the service. When Catherine said yes, the woman offered her support.
For Michael and his wife, it means the world that people are behind the U.S. troops.
"Even if you don’t agree with the president and the policies of the United States. Everybody wants the troops to come home safe," Catherine said.
"We can’t wait for the day he comes home safe," Michael said.
His wife added, "And the same for all the servicemen."
A bond to his country
South Philly native Ross Carfagno has been contacting networks, newspapers and other media outlets across the country in an effort to spread a patriotic message: Buy war bonds.
Carfagno, who already has purchased the EE Patriot Savings Bonds for his grandchildren, hypes their value and convenience. The bonds pay 3.25 percent (at press time) and can be obtained at your local bank.
