Area soldiers sent to help rebuild Iraq

Within the next two weeks, 26 Southeast Missouri Army Reservists will be headed to northern Iraq for a mission that may make the war look easy -- rebuilding the battle-scarred country.

The troops from the 348th Engineer Co., based at Cape Girardeau's Army Reserve Training Center on Plaza Way, have been at Fort Leonard Wood since they were activated in late February. They received word about their impending deployment within the past few days.

The timing of their deployment was confirmed by Army Reserve spokesman Frank Tucker, a civilian who works in the unit's St. Louis headquarters. Several of the soldiers' family members also confirmed the unit's destination, where they will likely be for up to 18 months, maybe longer.

Tucker said the soldiers will join the 389th Engineer Battalion out of Dubuque, Iowa, a construction unit that will likely be building roads, buildings and other infrastructure.

Company commander Maj. Leo Buccheit, who was not activated, cautioned that even though the fighting is over, Iraq is still a volatile place.

"There are still sniper reports and factions of supporters of Saddam Hussein," Buccheit said. "There's always the looming threats of land mines you can come across. Then there's the fact that some of the Iraqis would rather not see us there."

Nevertheless, Buccheit said the soldiers -- made up of carpenters, plumbers, masons, welders, heavy-equipment operators and cooks -- are prepared.

"They're trained for this and that's what they volunteered for," he said.

Only a fraction of the unit was picked, those who could complement a construction unit.

War training

Sgt. John Plaskie of Cape Girardeau was reached by cell phone at Fort Leonard Wood, where the soldiers have been training in counterterrorism, weapons, digging foxholes and simulated battles.

"It's been pretty good going," he said. "We've got a good dose of it."

Like any good family man, Plaskie worries more about his wife, Tina, and their children, who he is leaving literally a world away. He said that the soldiers are trained and focus on the mission, knowing exactly what's going on. His family doesn't have that luxury.

"That's hard to take," said Plaskie, whose civilian job is at Procter & Gamble as a diaper line technician.

From Fort Leonard Wood, he's been talking to his wife every day on a cell phone. In Iraq, a satellite phone is required, and that is hard to come by, Plaskie said.

Plaskie did get to come home for Easter, and he has spent a few weekends visiting with his family. They have traveled to see him a few times.

He worries less, thanks to his church and friends, who have promised to help watch over Tina and the children.

"That gives me a sense she's going to be taken care of," he said. "Of course, being the man of the house, I feel kind of left out. I have no control. She's the one with the burden."

However, the possibility of death has flickered through Plaskie's mind.

"When I watch the news, I stress to these young guys that this is for real," he said. "There's a chance some of us might not come home. Hopefully, with our training, that won't happen."

Tina Plaskie, a nurse who works in a local dentist's office, said she is scared for her husband.

"It's hard to know what he's going into," she said. "Then there's the stress of the kids. And the not knowing how long he's going to be gone. How will we communicate? It's something he's trained for, but I still have questions."

She's glad the job is getting done, though.

"I'd rather see him go do the job than see my kids have to go back and finish it," she said.

Jeannette Redd, whose husband, Wilbur, is among those going, said her emotions are more centered on loneliness.

"I don't want to be alone without him," she said. "I don't fear for his life. He's trained. I just don't want him to be gone. It's hard. It's hard financially, not to mention that I rely on him 100 percent. I hope the country appreciates what they're doing."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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