Engineer Returns from Helping Rebuild Iraq

Defense News ^ | Pat Fisher

[SandRat]

Lt. j.g. Alfred Nuzzolo mingles with school children in Iraq during his recent seven-month deployment. Nuzzolo helped local Iraqis rebuild a training base that had been damaged during the global war on terrorism. Courtesy Photo

U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Alfred Nuzzolo

Engineer Returns from Helping Rebuild Iraq

By Pat Fisher Marine Corps Logistics Base MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga., July 21, 2006 -- A Navy engineer assigned to the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction office here recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Iraq to help rebuild an Iraqi training base. Lt. j.g. Alfred Nuzzolo, assistant resident in charge of construction, departed Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in January to help rebuild the An Numaniyah Iraqi military training base, which is about 90 miles southeast of Baghdad. The base had been under construction by Yugoslavian contractors for the former regime. It now operates as an Iraqi training base for new recruits and serves as the home station for three battalions of the Iraqi Intervention Force — the Iraqi army’s counterinsurgency wing. Nuzzolo provided engineering expertise on rebuilding infrastructure for the base including war-damaged existing buildings, electrical and septic systems, and the addition of new structures, air conditioning, security and various other projects on the base. “I was an advisor to 17 Iraqi engineers so I interacted with the locals quite a bit,” explained Nuzzolo. “The people I met were appreciative of us being there.” Nuzzolo said most of the country looked “khaki” to him, which is how he described the brown and dusty countryside. “But sometime at dawn and dusk, we would climb onto the roofs of buildings on the base and watch the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It could be very pretty at times,” said the 30-year-old.

Upon his June 30 return, Nuzzolo’s co-workers at the Albany office threw him a small welcome home party. The native of Brunswick, Ga., was accompanied by his wife Abby, who was cradling a new addition to the family — a baby girl. “Sophia was born on March 12, and I knew Abby was expecting before I left. But when I called and found out she was in the hospital to give birth, I called the hospital every hour … and I talked to Abby 10 minutes after our daughter was born,” Nuzzolo said. “I also saw our daughter several times by videoconference.” Nuzzolo said some of the most enjoyable times he had while in Iraq were during several “hearts and minds” missions he went on. “We went to local schools and took supplies, clothes and candy. The kids really liked the candy,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.” Nuzzolo added, “One of the most unusual things I observed was that most of the locals lived in very small mud huts, no bigger than an office, but almost all of them had satellite TV dishes mounted outside.” While the six-year Navy veteran said he is glad to be back home, his life is still a bit unsettled. “My wife and I are house hunting here,” said Nuzzolo. “Once we find a house, I’ll take some leave.”

[SandRat]

They keep trying to help......