Guardsmen back from Iraq readjust to small-town life

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- After a year in Iraq, Zach Petty found a few things changed in his hometown. Friends have different jobs. His parents have new wallpaper. But he's not complaining.

Petty and his fellow members of the Missouri National Guard 1140th Engineer Battalion returned about two months ago, and they're still readjusting.

"I love every piece of grass around here and to see farm equipment instead of a camel is nice," said Petty, a member of Charlie Company.

First Sgt. Steve Alexander said the readjustment process "is hard to explain. It's just taken a little while. I'm not used to large crowds of people not in uniform.

"It felt funny the first time I got in a vehicle and drove, and I kept looking up to see if a 50-gunner was up there," he said.

The pace of civilian life is taking some getting used to.

"Over there you have to be on your toes a lot and now that I'm home, I've found idle time kills me," said Petty, who now works as a car salesman. Time change was another factor for a few days when he returned home, said Alexander who works full-time at the Sikeston Armory.

Linda Lowes said her 24-year-old son, Daniel, who served with Charlie Company, wasn't exactly prepared for rejoining college life in Columbia.

"The one thing that Daniel underestimated is the time it would take to readjust to civilian life because the military life is extremely structured," Lowes said.

Charlie Company State Family Program coordinator Mike McGuire said it's normal for soldiers and their loved ones to experience changes.

"Anytime you have long separation from someone -- whether for military or anything else -- when you come back together, the dynamics may have changed a little bit. And if you're not aware of that, you could be fighting with each other," McGuire said.

The Veterans Administration is anticipating a rise in post traumatic stress disorder cases, McGuire said. Suicide rates also are raising concern.

And the Department of Defense has seen an increase in divorces, which is why the Army is funding Prevention Relationship Enhancement Preparation programs at six locations in the state this fiscal year, McGuire said. The Southeast Missouri program is set for July 22-23 in Cape Girardeau.

"It will be like a weekend getaway for the couple. It will be about re-establishing the relationship and identifying risk factors that lead to a failing marriage," McGuire said.

But the return home has had many positives. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't offer words of gratitude for the 1140th's work, both Petty and Alexander said.

"Most of us were pretty overwhelmed with public support when we came home. It makes us feel good," Petty said.

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Information from: Standard Democrat,

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