Back from Iraq, briefly

Casa Grande grad, now an infantryman on leave, visits family and friends

June 7, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Greg Scott, a graduate of Casa Grande's Class of '97, is back visiting his family and friends. Like everything else he does, he's taking it in stride, almost like a 15-day vacation from a regular job.

Of course, they don't call it vacation; they call it "leave." Scott's job is on the other side on the world, and it's one where people sometimes shoot at him, or try to blow him up. Sometimes, he shoots back.

Other times, he just chats with the local residents or helps them solve problems.

Such is the life of an infantryman in Iraq. Scott, a specialist, simply goes about his job, doing the best he can, every day.

People over here want to know what's going on over there, of course.

"That's why I'm over there in the first place," he said. "Because I wanted to find out, too." Scott said that he felt that the best way to find out what was going on in Iraq was to sign up.

Now he knows, sure, but it's just one man's view, from one place.

Scott's been in Iraq since late last year, stationed in an agricultural area outside of Baghdad.

"Everyone thinks of Iraq as a desert, but there's definitely farmland out there," he said.

Scott's platoon helps provide security or sometimes goes on patrol, creating a presence to inhibit insurgents. Some of its patrols are with the Iraqi Army. The platoon also interacts with locals to establish good relations.

He said that the locals in his rural area live at a slower pace.

"They're very polite, they're country people," he said. "I've heard from people who have been in the cities that there's a difference between metropolitan people and rural people in Iraq, as you would probably find anywhere else."

In addition, he said, the kids get excited when they see American soldiers and come up to see if the soldiers will give them candy or pens.

Occasionally, Scott said, the platoon hears gunshots, sometimes headed its way. But it's infrequent, even in his area, which is considered one of the most dangerous areas.

He said that rather than getting in firefights, his platoon is more likely to be shot at by someone who will take one shot, then maybe drop the gun and walk into the street "and look like a normal person."

But that type of situation is infrequent, he said.

Has he seen casualties?

Yes, he does know people who have been killed. Yes, he did help someone nearby who was wounded by gunshot. Fortunately, his Army first aid training came right back to him.

"I just kind of take everything just one day at a time, and realize I'm going to be there for a certain amount of time," he said. "I just pretty much resolve myself to that, and look forward to coming home, certainly."

Another casualty of war was perhaps more unexpected. A fire burned down Scott's base in February. It was in an old potato factory, and the fire was probably due to faulty wiring. No one was injured.

(Contact Dane Golden at dgolden@arguscourier.com)