Soldier who returned from Iraq highlights Bronaugh Veteran's Day remembrance

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Bronaugh schools honored veterans Tuesday with an assembly in the gym first thing in the morning. Specialist E-4 Jerry Wilson, Liberal, was the featured speaker. Wilson returned from Iraq July 4 after serving for five months in the 226 Engineering Company building a fuel pipeline.

Other speakers included Doug Yokley reading Johnny Cash's "That Ragged Old Flag" and Mr. Wayne Coble reading Presidenzt George W. Bush's 2003 Veteran's Day proclamation.

Wilson's company built 224 miles of pipeline from their base just inside Iraq to Al Nasiriyah. Wilson said that while the news that we hear is full of attacks on Americans there is part of the story we don't hear.

"I think the thing you don't hear is that the Iraqi people want us there. The stuff on TV is that they don't want us there but my experience is that they do," he said.

Wilson talked about the hardships faced by the military as they pushed forward but it was the small inconveniences that bothered him the most.

"I took a lot of things for granted in the U.S. before we got over there but I never thought I'd take toilet paper for granted. There didn't seem to be any toilet paper in that country," he said.

Wilson said that he really knew the war had started when his camp was the target of two of Saddam Hussein Scud missiles.

"The one moment that brought home to me that the war was started was when two Scud missiles landed near us. I can't really describe the sound, it was so forceful."

Wilson spent the first 30 days of service in Iraq on guard duty, four hours on and 12 hours off. "The first 30 days in Iraq I did security then I got to get in a semi. We hauled pipe and sometimes water. The pipes were 19 feet long and were bolted together. The guys who bolted the pipes together walked the whole 224 of the pipeline."

Wilson displayed the traditional Arab head gear, the kafiyyeh, and described the robes worn.

In addition to the kafiyyeh, Wilson showed the students his own beret and the campaign hat worn in Iraq.

After Wilson's speech the veterans in the crowd were asked to come forward to receive a certificate of appreciation for their service.