By STEPHEN McGUIRE

While our minds are on shopping and family get-togethers this week, there will be one tough Marine from Queens who will spend the holidays thousands of miles from home.

Hermosa, who is 25-years-old, grew up in Maspeth, attending St. Sebastian Grammar School in Woodside and later Holy Cross High School in Flushing.

Hermosa said, "During that time I gave thought to the military and decided to attend the Naval Academy Prep School. After prep school I received an appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. Upon graduation I received a commission into the US Marine Corps."

Charlie’s parents, Etel and Miguel Hermosa who currently reside in Maspeth, told us that they are very proud of their son and what he is doing to protect his country.

Etel Hermosa, told a Spanish speaking PRESS reporter in Spanish, that "a lot of people have been calling to wish the family well and to say that Charlie is in their prayers as
he helps to defend democracy.

"Since he was young, Charlie always wanted to be in the military," his mom said, relaying a story that her own mother shared with her after Charlie and his grandmother saw a soldier.

"Charlie said, ‘I want to be a soldier.’  His grandmother replied ‘but soldiers die.’ His response was ‘If I have to die for my country, I have to die.’ He was five and to see him over there now, reminds me of that story." Etel said.

Tom Pugh, guidance counselor and football coach at Holy Cross for the past 31 years remembered seeing the same kind of dedication from Charlie when he played football at the Queens high school.

"Charlie was an outstanding football player. He’s a great person and a coach’ s dream," Pugh said.

"There are several places I miss but the biggest one has to be my home in Maspeth. My family are the most important people in my life," Hermosa said.

Hermosa is currently serving his country and protecting our freedom by coordinating U.S. Marine Corps missions in Afghanistan that are part of "Operation Enduring Freedom."

The PRESS spoke with Hermosa via e-mail as he was taking a break from his busy schedule in his role as Team Embarkation Officer aboard the Navy helicopter launch ship, the U.S.S. Bataan.

"I coordinate with the Navy on getting all Marine Corps personnel and equipment for a specific mission. I make sure that the battalion has all they need for the fight," he told us from aboard the Bataan, which was positioned just off the coast of Pakistan in the Arabian Sea.

"Sept. 11 will live forever in my heart," Hermosa told the PRESS.

"I received e-mails from a numerous amount of people, but the biggest one that hit home was the news that my friend’s brother . . .was added to the list of the people missing," he explained.

"My family informed me about the fire house on 65th Place and Queens Boulevard and how they suffered tremendously," Hermosa explained.

The firehouse he spoke of is the home of the FDNY’s Rescue 4 unit where firefighters are still coping with the loss of six firefighters lost in the World Trade Center attack.

"All I want to say to them is that we are praying for you and that we will remain strong to the cause that brought us out here, " Hermosa said.

"To my family and friends, you are always in my thoughts and prayers," he said. "I will be home soon!"

Aboard First Lt. Hermosa’s vessel, the helicopter dock ship USS Bataan, Marines
and Navy personnel recently marked the three-month anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11 with the hoisting of a flag that was once draped over the destroyed buildings at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.

On the flag are written the names of NYPD officers killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The 12-by-18-foot nylon flag traveled from New York City to the Bataan and was raised by members of the the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit at their base in Kandahar on
Dec. 18.

Photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Johnny Bivera