Area native working on rebuilding Iraq's Babil province

For the past three months, Lt. Col. Roger Shuck's primary work has consisted of reconstruction -- the slow process of rebuilding the economy and government in Iraq.

Shuck's unit, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, is responsible for the Forward Operating Base Kalsu, about 40 miles south of Baghdad. It is in the Babil region, which encompasses an area about the size of Switzerland, Shuck said in a telephone interview.

Shuck graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1984 and attended Southeast Missouri State University as a psychology major, where he worked toward a master's degree.

In 1989, Shuck, who had been a member of the ROTC and later the National Guard, switched gears and signed up for active duty in the U.S. Army.

Now, at 42, Shuck is on his third trip to Iraq. He said he has suddenly become the "old guy" in the unit.

"Most of the soldiers here are so young -- that used to be me," he said.

Shuck is deputy commander of the brigade, made up of about 3,500 soldiers, three combat battalions and two support battalions.

The unit works with the Iraqi army and police to flush out and capture known extremists or criminals, as well as conduct operations to find weapons and explosives caches in the region, said Maj. Jesse Goldman, public affairs officer for the 4th Brigade Combat Team.

When the unit took over the area in December, local tribal leaders and security forces assisted them in garnering as much knowledge about the Babil province as they could before turning over the reins to the brigade.

"Now, they just ride shotgun," Shuck said.

The overwhelming majority of Iraqis just want the fighting to be over, Shuck said.

Shuck said the chances of stability in the economy and government rest heavily on ensuring a greater sense of security among the people in the region.

"Security drives the economy," he said.

When the unit first took up residence, it began by clearing al-Qaida forces in Khidr, near the west bank of the Euphrates River, Shuck said.

Soldiers killed 18 extremists, captured 25 and seized 43 caches of weapons. They established Patrol Base Kelsey, named after one of their own who lost his life during the operation.

Shuck said many Iraqis are looking forward to being able to return to their homes for the first time in two years, having been driven out by al-Qaida forces.

"Eventually, we believe we'll be able to retreat, to move over and let the Iraqis take over, but people need to feel safe," he said.

The unit expects being able to return home around January, Goldman said.

Agriculture used to make up 75 percent of the Babil region. The unit is trying to fund a project that would bring farms together to produce and sell produce.

"We work to improve areas such as governance, economics and rule of law, all of which is made possible by working with the Iraqi security forces to provide security," Goldman said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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