Iraq comes home to MSU

by Derek Fabry

We all remember our first few weeks of college at Michigan State. We were nervous, unsure about our future, trying to figure out where we fit in. Imagine then being plucked out of your new college dorm room after only three weeks to go and serve your country.

For Jim Bouchard, that was a reality. A member of the Army National Guard and a student at MSU, Bouchard was sent overseas in March 2003, just two days after the start of the conflict in Iraq and three weeks after beginning classes at MSU. 

“It was a cultural shock. There were people standing on one side of the road during the trek. Some were throwing rocks, some were trying to pull equipment off the trucks,” the advertising senior said. 

Bouchard said he arrived in Kuwait to begin a 300-mile trek to his base in Al Kut, Iraq. The 24-hour road trip, from 5 a.m. to 5 a.m., included no time to stop or rest. Bouchard said he fell asleep on his vehicle at the base from complete exhaustion. 

“There was a lot of stress from not knowing what was going to happen,” he said. “At the base, we had to walk two miles just to get to the mess hall to eat. You go through a gallon of water just trying to walk there.” 

While in Iraq, Bouchard said he was part of a bridge building squadron.  “We built the longest floating bridge in history,” he said.  “We were given a month, it took just under two weeks.” 

Although he was trained to build bridges with his squadron, many times he was ordered to do other missions, such as hauling ammunition.  “There’s nothing more annoying than doing a job other than what you’re trained for. But you get a mission and you do it,” he said. 

A good number of the civilians in Iraq were appreciative of the Americans being there, although some people didn’t care for their presence.   “I put them in four classes. First, all they wanted was food or water or a material item. Second, they start talking to you all friendly, then they ask for food or water. Third, they were truly appreciative of us being there.” 

The fourth group, Bouchard said, was a dangerous one.  “They wanted to cause you harm. They didn’t like you but they didn’t approach or talk to you,” he said. 

Bouchard returned to Michigan after six months in Iraq. He uses his military training and obligations to help him in other studies. He’s in the army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at MSU. Needless to say, it keeps him busy. 

“Because of the eight hours mandatory (of ROTC) a week, you need to be efficient and manage your time or you’ll go downhill fast,” he said. 

Krista Holcomb has a different perspective. Her boyfriend, Nikkolas Pigg, just became a Marine last November.   

“It’s already tough with him away at an infantry school,” she said.  “He told me last week he might be deploying (overseas) in July,” Holcomb said. She is dreading that day in July. “I’m going to be a wreck. I won’t lie; I’m going to be a wreck. 

The couple’s two-year anniversary was at the end of February. The MSU no preference freshman said that since they’ve been together, practically all he has talked about has been joining the military. 

“I support him,” she said.  “I’m so proud of him. He’s doing something I could never do.”

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