Nevada Guard soldiers return home from Iraq

By Becky Bosshart

Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 | 10:27 p.m.

Children grew and graduated. One soldier missed his son's wedding. Great economic troubles plagued their families, just as small problems frustrated them. The Nevada Army National Guard's 140th Military Police Brigade Liaison Detachment was in Iraq, but life at home continued without them.

The frustrations seemed to disappear as the unit returned to Henderson Friday night after a year in Iraq. The 10 soldiers were greeted by family and friends at the Las Vegas Readiness Center, 4500 W. Silverado Ranch Blvd.

Capt. Robert Mays Jr., of Henderson, said it felt good to step back on American soil after a year at Camp Victory in Baghdad, in the heart of turmoil.

"It feels incredible to be back," Mays said while surrounded by his wife, Angie, and their two sons, Trey, 18, and Chris, 15. "It's better than I thought. It's surreal. There were times when I didn't think we'd see this day because of the nature of the mission."

The unit was established in September 2007 and about six months later it was sent on its first deployment. The soldiers were the liaison between Iraqis and the coalition forces in detention facilities in Iraq.

All members of the Henderson-based unit returned home.

Their job was to help Iraqi security detainees those who at one point were thought to be a threat to American-led coalition forces return to a normal life, said Capt. Peter Fuller, of Las Vegas. That could mean helping an Iraqi find a new job or encouraging them to join a community service program.

The time for a "normal life" has come again for Fuller, who will return to work as a an officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in mid-February.

The soldiers were also responsible for ensuring the prisoners were treated properly and in accordance with international treaties -- a delicate job following the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, the soldiers said.

One of the unit's soldiers said he took lessons he learned from first-hand experience at the war prison with him this time around.

The news broke in late April 2004 that a small group of U.S. soldiers was responsible for torturing and humiliating Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison. An international uproar followed the release of photos that showed how the prisoners were treated.

Major Troy Armstrong, of Las Vegas, was first deployed with the unit that opened Abu Ghraib, the 72nd Military Police Co., following the 2003 invasion. His unit left in October 2003. Armstrong said he wasn't aware of the abuses, but some members of his unit were called in to testify.

"It was pretty bad," he said. "It was probably one of the worst places you could be. Three of four nights a week we were getting mortar attacks."

With his tours of duty behind him, Armstrong said he is looking to his future in Las Vegas with his wife, Yvette, and their three children. Soon, Armstrong will watch 11-year-old Aariel's softball games. He'll listen to his 16-year-old son Earnest play the drums in his rock band and watch Elijah, 14, play basketball.

With the economy in a recession, job prospects aren't good for many returning soldiers. But Armstrong will return to his job with Clark County Child Protection Services, where he was recently promoted to manager.

While he was gone, the family of Master Sgt. Ron Morse, of Las Vegas, missed him. Morse missed his son Scott's wedding and his son Kyle's graduation from Centennial High School.

"Life doesn't stop," he said, before heading home after the welcoming ceremony. "It's like a machine. You jump back on. You really don't have a choice."

The Nevada National Guard has about 300 soldiers and airmen deployed around the world fighting the global war on terrorism.

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].