Serving 'wasn’t what I expected’

FOURTH IN A SERIES

Dominic Thao's grandfather and uncle fought in World War II and Vietnam. To keep the legacy alive, Thao, 29, joined the National Guard. He served 16 months in Iraq as a specialist securing supply routes. He lives in Mounds View and studies business at Century College. These are his words:

When the war started, I was indifferent about our participation. By joining and serving in the war, it gave me a more in-depth look. But to be honest, how the operation is unfolding is still very unclear to me.

We might not even understand the purpose of this war until maybe 10 years from now. There's not going to be one formula to fix this situation. Eventually, we're going to have to pull out. But I couldn't say if that's in 10 years or tomorrow because, at this time, we're just playing a guessing game.

It's up to how the nationals in Iraq desire to run their country. Personally, it just gave me time to reflect and opened my eyes to being in a different part of the world and interacting with different cultures.

I was more nonchalant and maybe a little too carefree before the war. This opportunity gave me a perspective in life that maybe I didn't see being back home. I'm more serious. Maybe that comes from maturity. Being a participant in the war drew me away from my comfort zone.

But it wasn't what I expected. I didn't sit in the households [of Iraqis]. Everything was mission-oriented. There were brief moments when you'd have contact, but I didn't establish long-term relationships with any of the nationals.

We made sure there was no insurgent activity in the area and assured the constant flow of supplies. After a while you lose your sense of paranoia. There are different levels of danger and, at times, it made you complacent after so many missions. You make it through and you're just like, it's not going to happen. Then you hear stories of other units out on the road suffering from injuries and that kind of puts you back on your toes.

In Iraq, and being in the war effort, you have one specific job and mission. So you pack yourself real tight and the focus is really deep but narrow.

Sometimes, I'm a little reluctant to explain the situation [to friends and family back home], other than in vague terms. There are some specifics that they can't comprehend or visualize and it almost grows tiresome trying to break it down for them.

A lot of people have this misperception that if you're over there, you're directly involved with some direct form of fighting or combat. For every one combat personnel, there's seven people supporting and it's a wide array of jobs from cleaning kitchens to filling sandbags.

It's like saying I've been to St. Paul but I lived in the Como Zoo the whole time. My job was just as important as anybody's because you're a needed component. But when you come back from being in the Como Zoo, you've never really been to St. Paul.

Thao's comments are edited from a longer interview with staff writer Curt Brown.

Coming Saturday: Salih Radhi, an Iraqi immigrant.