Cliff Buchan
News EditorItís 8:10 p.m. and David OíConnor has a break from his 12-14 hour daily job of bridge building in Tikrit, Iraq. There is a distant sound to the Forest Lake High School graduateís voice over the telephone line from Southwest Asia.
After three weeks of duty with his Army Reserve engineering company in Tikrit, OíConnor, 22, is finding little time to do more than work, eat and sleep.
Still, he says, he remains cautious and guarded despite a feeling that most of the Iraqis welcome the presence of the U.S. troops that freed the country from the yolk of a dictator.
ìMost of the people want us here,î he says. ìThe kids run out and wave when we drive by. But when someone mortars us or uses a rocket-propelled grenade, it changes my perspective.î
OíConnor said his unit has not come under any direct attack but the reports of hostile insurgents abound.
Some are the work of Baath Party loyalists or former Iraqi troops that no longer have work, while other attacks are being carried out by civilians who are being paid by Saddam-backers, he believes.
ìA lot of people are hurting for money,î OíConnor said. ìTheyíll do anything for $100.î
OíConnor says the long work days are helping him cope with his assignment that is likely to continue through next April. He has been in Iraq since April of this year.
His morale his good, he says, thanks to the mail and prayers he is receiving from family and friends back home. He is eagerly looking forward to coming home and getting back to work and college.
ìThe support from home is great,î he said. ìI wouldnít be able to make it without it.î
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