Retired Marine can't resist call to duty
After 16 years of leading a successful civilian life, Simi resident decides to re-enlist in the reserves
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKS/Acorn Newspapers Rafael Dagnesses

Faced with the nightly offering of bloody images and video beamed into our homes from locations in Iraq and Afghanistan by national news channels, many Americans are left feeling powerless, wondering if there's anything more they could be doing to help our fighting men and women and their families.

Simi Valley resident Rafael Dagnesses was no different- only he decided to do something drastic about it.

At age 41, Dagnesses, a 16year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, has re-enlisted in the Marines as a reservist amidst the ongoing Iraqi conflict, which just this month cost the lives of 87 U.S. troops. It has been eight years since he first retired from active duty.

"I couldn't stand being on the sidelines anymore, watching as good men and women died every day to protect this country," Dagnesses said. "We hear about the war all the time, but nobody does anything about it unless it impacts them in some way."

Even while making a successful living in the civilian world running his own real estate business, Dagnesses said that there was something inside himself still left unfulfilled.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers NOT FORGOTTEN- Rafael Dagnesses of Simi Valley, a former Marine who has decided to re-enlist, sits in his home office beside a small stone structure dedicated to the memory of Iwo Jima. Dagnesses will host a fundraising casino night to benefit the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton on Saturday, July 7. For further information, visit www.runningforthetroops.com.

While working with local veterans organizations, the former Marine gunnery sergeant said he had the opportunity to meet soldiers in their 20s who were preparing to go on their third or fourth deployment to the Middle East.

"As a civilian, I felt guilty eating a $60 steak when I know there are guys out there in foxholes who won't sleep for days," Dagnesses said.

In addition to his decision to reenlist in the Marine Corps reserves, Dagnesses has also teamed up with City Councilmember Glen Becerra and Mark Shuster, commander of the Marine Corps League Detachment 597, to start the Running for the Troops Foundation, an organization he hopes will raise money for existing military programs that provide aid to the Wounded Warrior project, which operates a center at Camp Pendleton.

The Wounded Warrior project began in 2005 to provide support to those who have been permanently injured and their families. To learn more about Wounded Warrior, go to www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Becerra, a neighbor and friend, called Dagnesses "a true patriot."

"He understands that the reason we have our freedom is because we have a military that protects it," Becerra said.

On July 7, Dagnesses will be putting on the foundation's first fundraiser- a casino night scheduled to be held in the resident's more than 30,000square-foot Simi Valley spread.

For more information about the foundation or the event, go to www.running4thetroops.com.

Many would agree that Dagnesses' 16 years spent as a Marine have fulfilled his commitment to protect his country. But for the father of three, who also spent eight years as a Los Angeles police officer after getting out of the service, it wasn't enough.

Dagnesses said he is often frustrated by the apathy and materialism that he sees from the average person on the street.

"This seems to be the 'me' generation, and everyone is only looking out for themselves," Dagnesses said. "Nobody is thinking of what they can do for others. They are too concerned about the next car they are going to buy or how big of a television they can get."

Natalie, Dagnesses' wife of 11 years, said she supports her husband's decision to re-enlist 100 percent, despite the possible danger it poses.

Knowing that the day may come when her husband will have to be deployed, she said she believes that the sacrifices made by both of them will be worth it in the end.

"It's a great benefit for the troops (who are already there)," Natalie said. "We are both hard workers, and wherever he goes his family will be behind him all the way."