From my home town...

[sfc_darrel]

Soldiers have pride in work
By RUFFIN PREVOST
Gazette Wyoming Bureau

WORLAND - "The experiences I had were once in a lifetime, and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world," William Bailey said of his time with the Army in Afghanistan.

Bailey got together with other veterans at the Worland American Legion post recently to share his experiences in the military and reflect on how time in the armed forces has shaped the lives of those who have served.

"He's really doing some great work," said Vietnam veteran Don Hall of Bailey. Hall said he hoped Bailey's efforts would inspire other young people across Wyoming and around the country to volunteer for military service.


"So many people want to get something from their country, but don't want to make the investment," Hall said. "These young people have chosen to do hard and dangerous work to benefit their country.

"I hope that in four or five years, we see more of these kinds of people running for office and taking responsibility in their communities," he said.

Bailey will be doing more than just serving as an example for others. He recently began working as an Army recruiter, using his experience with the 501st Airborne Division as a tool to help convince others to enlist.

"I've only being doing (recruiting) for about a month, but there are a lot of people who want to join," Bailey said. "It's definitely worth it. The feeling you get knowing you're doing something good not just for yourself but for everybody in the country," is a reason why many join.

"It's like a big family. Everyone relies on everyone else," said Cynthia Webster, an Army National Guard supply specialist who recently returned from Iraq and now is working at Washakie Medical Center.

"It's something that will last a lifetime. I'll remember those people for the rest of my life," she said.

After returning home to her two young children, Webster is thankful for the comforts others take for granted. She said her unit was composed of several plumbers, electricians and mechanics, which paid dividends when setting up camp.

"We were the first company to have lights. It was only one bulb in each tent, but we set up our own showers too," she said.

Webster's company delivered jet fuel and other supplies to Baghdad International Airport, and though the drive was dangerous, it was also sometimes harrowing for unexpected reasons.

She described instances of Iraqi adults "throwing kids in front of vehicles to get the trucks to stop, so they could steal stuff out of the back of them. A couple of kids did end up getting killed" during such incidents.

Both Webster and Bailey say much of the work done by soldiers receives little attention from the mainstream media.

"CNN is all about putting out their side of the story, and 90 percent of what they show you on the news is just the bad stuff," said Bailey. "People don't see the good stuff," like soldiers helping dig wells, repairing schools or building soccer fields for local children.

Bailey said America's military presence in Afghanistan is changing the country for the better.

One of his assignments involved guarding voter registration sites along the Afghan border with Pakistan, where al-Qaeda and Taliban gunmen attempted to intimidate or even murder potential voters.

"The estimate for the Paktia province, where we were, was that 3.5 million people would register" to vote, he said. "We ended up getting 6 million registered, and 55 percent of those were females.

"That made us feel good about what we did there," Bailey said.

Webster and Bailey said their families were also proud of their service.

"My mom is very patriotic and proud, and tells everyone she meets about me, which is irritating, sometimes," Webster said with a laugh. Her grandfather, a World War II veteran, worried for her, but was also proud of her work.

"My grandfather passed away when I was over there, and that was very hard because he didn't get to see me come back," she said. "I got a letter from him almost every week. He would write and draw little pictures."

Bailey's father, James L. Bailey, is a Vietnam veteran and Legion volunteer who helps send care packages to Wyoming soldiers stationed in Iraq, including his other son, James R. Bailey.

Hall said the hard work and positive impact of young soldiers like Bailey and Webster are what eventually will win the hearts and minds of people in far-flung corners of the globe.

"It's perpetually the story of the American G.I.," said Hall. "They've been the best ambassador throughout history, showing America at its best: friendly, generous people."

Hall said he hoped veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan would have a similar effect at home, particularly in other parts of the country where he said it has "become fashionable not to be a patriot."

Hall said, "It's a good thing to be proud of being American."


Contact Ruffin Prevost at rprevost@billingsgazette.com or (307) 527-7250.


Copyright ? The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

SFC Darrell I was with the 296th MP's at Yakima Firing Center for 1 year. 1973-1974. Then went back to Fort Leiws. Nice area, there, Union Gap and others.

[sfc_darrel]

I wasn't in Yakima much during that time.

I got back from Vietnam on April 1, 1973. My wife was in Selah & we had a couple of weeks at home to pack and get ready to move to South Carolina.

I was only married for 2 months before I went to Vietnam so staying home & packing was a priority.

Welcome home

Darrel