Some of Maine’s newest veterans are adapting to living back in civilian life, but their experiences in Iraq with the 133rd Engineer Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard are not far from their minds.
What is clear is that despite being shot at on a regular basis, having bombs explode next to them and patrolling the desert in full gear, each soldier is proud of their accomplishments.
“We did a lot of good things; we built health clinics, schools, met some local people,” said Master Sgt. Herb Wiley of Scarborough.
The soldiers reported that they were faced with stressful situations on a regular basis and were routinely attacked with rockets and mortars. Even when not on duty they had to be prepared to react to any emergency that may arise.
“The biggest issue with being over there is the unknown; you don’t know what’s gong to happen from one moment to the next,” said Sgt. 1st Class Peter Kelley of Scarborough.
Pfc. Norman Voter of Gray had similar feelings about returning home in March from a one-year tour in Iraq.
“It’s not something you get used to; not having to look over your shoulders,” said the former Scarborough resident, adding that it took some time to get adjusted to him home life, but he is now feeling better.
For some returning home has led them to look at their lives a bit differently and question what they should be doing.
Spc. Adam Szafran, who grew up in South Portland and whose parents still live in the city, but who moved to Cumberland upon his return, took a month off from work after retuning home, but now thinks he should have taken more.
“As time passes more and the more this becomes evident, like how less stressful civilian life is,” he said. “Little things people get worked up about where seem so inconsequential to me now.”
He also said he is beginning to question the benefit of working 60 hours a week, something he never really thought about before leaving for Iraq, where even off-duty he had to be prepared.
“We had to be ready to do anything anytime,” he said. “Coming home after that makes me wonder what’s the purpose of working so much.”
The members of the 133rd are a diverse group of soldiers, some of whom entered a war zone for the first time when they went to Iraq, and others who have gone to war before.
Two veteran soldiers who fought in Iraq are Kelley and Wiley. Kelley served in the Army during Operation Desert Storm while Wiley served for 18 months in Vietnam.
Kelley was not surprised to find himself heading back in Iraq as member of the National Guard and called it “another day in the office.”
But a lot had changed between now and when he was last over in Iraq. This time around he essentially had a home to live in and regularly had running water.
While in Desert Storm, Kelley said he was in the desert, away from a camp and slept either in a truck or a tent. Water had to be trucked in and when scarce none was used for washing. Instead soldiers used baby wipes.
The biggest different between the Iraq War and Vietnam War for Wiley was the way people treated the soldiers.
When the soldiers returned home from Iraq they were greeted by police cars and fire engines all the way from Kittery to the Westbrook armory and people lined the streets to welcome them back.
“It made you feel good to come home and see the local community was supporting you,” he said. After Vietnam, “you came home alone. People harassed you because you were in the military, but none of that happened this time.”
Wiley is now in the process of getting clearance to go to Afghanistan with the 240th Engineer Group out of Augusta that is readying to be deployed in January. Wiley accepted a promotion and transfer to the group and said he is ready to go if medical clearance comes through.
“I believe in what we’re doing there is for the good,” Wiley said.
Wiley’s job is giving orders to the various engineering companies and said he will be doing the same thing in Afghanistan except at a higher level.
He is not expecting to find the type of resistance that soldiers faced while stationed in Iraq and said his main concern is about making sure his family is fine while he is gone.
Voter did not have any experience fighting before going to Iraq, but quickly learned about the dangers when a truck he was traveling in was struck by a roadside bomb.
He suffered burns on his neck and throat and had a rock lodged into his ear that required surgery.
“I didn’t notice I was hurt until I got back to base camp,” he said.
He was laid up for a few days because of the ear injury and he was upset because he wanted to assist his fellow soldiers in their efforts.
“I was upset to be down there for so long,” he said. “I wanted to get back to work. I felt I was letting them down by not being there.”
Voter said he never thought about the possibility of being attacked again until he was traveling home for his two-week leave.
“I knew I was going home and I wanted to make it home to see my family and wife,” he said.
Overall Voter was proud of his accomplishments are work while in Iraq.
“There’s nothing I would do differently except not to go on that convoy,” he said.
Spc. Adam Szafran
Master Sergeant Herb Wiley
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