MILITARY KIDS SHARE SPECIAL BOND AT SUMMER CAMP OPERATION PURPLE CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND `DEPLOYED' TOGETHER.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST - United in a special bond, they roasted marshmallows over a campfire, swam in a chilly lake and rode horses.

They recognized the hints of sadness in one another's eyes, their sighs for a dad or a mom to come home from places other children only see on television: Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, Kosovo.

``I didn't know there were that many kids that were like me, whose dads are away in the war,'' said 9-year-old Mikhaila Silva of Saugus.

Mikhaila was among nearly 100 youngsters - from Santa Rosa to San Diego, Port Hueneme to Palmdale - who gathered for six days last week in California's first Operation Purple summer camp for children of deployed military personnel.

``I was shy at first, but then I got entrenched in playing,'' said Mikhaila, whose father, Chris, is an Army National Guard captain serving nine months in Kosovo. ``Everyone in my cabin is nice.''

Founded by the National Military Family Association, Operation Purple is funded by Sears Roebuck & Co. and its Sears American Dream Campaign. It has run such camps worldwide since last year.

For its first camp in California - at Pine Mountain Club in the mountains near Frazier Park - applications were received for more than 300 children of parents who are, have been or will be deployed overseas.

``What this camp does is it tells these kids they are not alone,'' said retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Eduardo Gadsden, a National Military Family Association board member. ``When they get to see the other children, it tells them it's OK to feel bad, but these kids are also taught how to deal with the issue of deployment. They learn coping skills, problem solving and teamwork.''

And the children's positive experiences help their parents.

``If a father knows his child is unhappy, it may affect his mission,'' Gadsden said. ``But if he knows his child is learning, is taken cared of, then he's not as worried. That's one of the values of this program.''

Children of parents who are deployed lose their sense of stability, especially those whose parents are deployed several times, said Kuuipo Ordway, a therapist for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Some bottle up their feelings because they do not want to bring more worries to the family, she said. They can also lash out in anger toward the military, or view the government negatively for sending a father or mother away.

``In the outside world, these kids are viewed as either always sad or misbehaving,'' Ordway said. ``They become lonely because their friends don't get them. Here, they don't have to explain anything, which makes it easier for them. ''

On the flip side, children whose parents return from combat also go through challenges, Ordway said.

``The kids are happy to see them, but then they also feel like, 'You haven't been here - you can't tell me what to do,''' Ordway said. ``The transition is hard on the parent, but also on the kids.''

Across camp, youngsters used the word ``deployed'' more times than there were pine cones on the ground.

``My dad has been deployed six times since I was born,'' said 10- year-old Kathryne Martinez of San Diego. ``I was surprised a lot of kids had the same feelings.''

``My dad has been to Iraq three times,'' said 11-year-old Alyssa Dominquez.

Her Hummingbird Lodge bunk mates said the camp was a fun way to meet each other.

``Finally, we got used to walking up that big hill, and now we have to leave,'' said 9-year-old Jacoby Verdusco as the other girls laughed.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Pedro Aquino, 28, stationed at Camp Pendleton, said the camp has had a profound effect on his three children.

Aquino returned in February from his second deployment to Iraq. He will leave for Okinawa in August.

After his first return from Iraq, he said he was able to readjust easily. After the second tour, when he saw combat, he returned home and wanted to withdraw.

``I came back and all I wanted to do was stay at home and not talk,'' he said.

He decided to volunteer as a counselor at the camp, to spend time with his children as well as mentor others.

``The camp takes them out of that mentality that I will leave again,'' Aquino said. ``Their minds are at ease right now. They love the environment.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in Valley edition only -- ran in Valley and SAC editions only) Daymara Colt, 11, of Oceanside works on a beading project in her bunk at Operation Camp Purple California, a weeklong ``bivouac'' for kids of military personnel on assignment overseas.

(2 -- color in Valley edition only -- ran in Valley and SAC editions only) Campers explore the pines around Mount Pinos on horseback. Nearly 100 youngsters gathered for six days last week in California's first Operation Purple summer camp for children of deployed military personnel.

(3 -- color in Valley edition only -- ran in Valley and SAC editions only) For Operation Purple's first camp in California - at Pine Mountain Club in the mountains near Frazier Park - applications were received for more than 300 children of parents who are, have been or will be deployed overseas.

(4 -- color -- ran in Valley edition only) Brother and sister Jared and Ashley Fleurant of Oceanside take in the wildlife at Mount Pinos as they carefully examine a lizard.

(5 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Signed shirts are evidence of the bonds formed between kids of military personnel, kids staying at Camp Purple.

David Crane/Staff Photographer