Peekskill Teenager Follows His Dream to Serve His Country

When William Aponte saw the news on September 11, 2001 he asked his mother if “all those people died,” and she told him yes. He responded by saying he wanted to help “get the people who did that,” his mother said, even though they did not know anyone who was killed or injured personally. Aponte was only six years old at the time and knew that he wanted to join the United States Military. His uncle, who was in the U.S. Army Airborne, was also an inspiration to him to enlist.

Eleven years later Aponte followed his dream and enlisted at age 17 and entered boot camp right after graduation once he turned 18. He was the only PHS graduate who enlisted in 2011. About 60 other young people from across Westchester and Rockland counties also enlisted through the Peekskill Recruitment Office, according to Staff Sergeant Brian Dawes.

“I knew growing up what I wanted to do. I wanted to have great opportunities and do something honorably,” Private First Class William Aponte said. He also realized a military career would provide him an opportunity to help his family financially and plan for a stable future for himself.

“He thought of helping me. I am a one parent family,” William’s mother Dawn Aponte said.

In the beginning of this year Aponte learned he would not be deployed to Afghanistan with his unit, which left in February. He had started training later than the rest of the unit he ended up joining a month before its deployment. He could not go with them because he and about 11 other marines still had to finish their training. Now, he will only be deployed if he is chosen as a replacement for a comrade who is injured or killed.

“That would suck. I would be going because someone else got hurt,” Aponte said.

While his mother is thrilled that her son is still safe in the United States, the ambitious marine is disappointed.

“I am a little upset about it. I definitely want to go. That is what I signed up to do. That is my job” Aponte said.

Other than finishing training and not being deployed, the hardest part about being stationed in Camp Pendleton, Aponte says, is “not being able to be there for my mother when she needs me.”

His mother had to sign the papers to allow him to enlist when he was only 17-years old.

“It was very hard for me but he looked me straight in the eye and told me, ‘mom, this is what I want to do,’” Dawn said.  Staff Sgt. Dawes from the spoke to her and put her at ease about what it meant for her son to join the marines.

“I could see in Williams’ eyes this is what he wanted to do and I didn’t want to be the one to put it off. As hard as it was, there was no stopping him,” Dawn said.

William Aponte is happy with his decision despite the challenges of being away from friends and family. He hopes that he can inspire others from tough backgrounds in Peekskill to follow their dreams.

“Don’t let the hardships surrounding you affect your goals,” Aponte advises.

This May, Aponte will return to Peekskill for two weeks to help Staff Sgt. Dawes with recruitment.

If you are interested in joining the military, you can contact Sgt. Dawes at 518-321-6549 or visit him at the Recruitment Office on Park Street in Peekskill. It is across the hall from the DMV.