Currently New Hampshire has about 175 of its National Guard Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. About 150 of them are with the 36-43rd Maintenance Company, providing security at a military prison at Camp Victory just outside Baghdad.
NHPR's Mark Bevis checked in with a member of the Guard each Friday during their deployment in the Middle East. You can find all of the conversations here.
 |
The men and women of the 36-43rd are coming home soon, and Capt Gagnon talks about what's he's come to appreciate over the past year.
listen: 
|
 |
The recent graduate from John Stark High School in Weare is watching over juvenile detainees in Iraq.
listen:
|
 |
Specialist Peryer searches people at the front gate of the detention center at Camp Victory. It's part security, but it's also part public relations.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt Bourgeois grew up in Manchester, but has since moved to Guilford with his wife and 3 children. He also plays the trumpet in the Army Band.
listen:
|
 |
Like all big outfits, the National Guard needs its IT guys. Staff Sgt. William Dow is one of them.
listen:
|
 |
The New Hampshire native and current resident of Hill gets to do his job, he just has to do it in a war zone where the temperature gets to 140.
listen:
|
 |
The 2nd Lieutenant comes from Vermont, by way of Maine, and has been in the Guard since before graduating from high school.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Lewis is a 14 year service veteran. He's worked in nuclear subs, he's repaired tanks, and now he's guarding a detention center.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Pasternak lives in New Jersey, but we won't hold that against him. He's the 36-43rd Company's lead medic.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Flint hails from Sanford, Maine, but his dad and his uncles were in the New Hampshire National Guard, so he joined too.
listen:
|
 |
Originally from Guam, Sgt. Ignacio is on a mission with the New Hampshire National Guard's 36-43 Company.
listen:
|
 |
Specialist York came home on leave and changed his life.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Amrol is from Concord and is on his second deployment to Iraq.
listen:
|
 |
When he's not part of the US forces in Iraq, Sgt Dillon helps counsel people with brain injuries and other disabilities at Crotched Mountain.
listen:
|
 |
While Congress and lawmakers in Concord debate US policy in Iraq and whether to bring the troops home, this soldier would like nothing more than to come home... when he's done with his mission.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Austin says ask any soldier and not one will tell you they want to do detainee operations.
listen:
|
 |
It takes soldiers doing lots of different jobs to keep a Company running smoothly. Sgt. Radcliffe manages human resources for the Guard troops.
listen:
|
 |
Lt. Weber hails from Colebrook and would really like to be skiing right now.
listen:
|
 |
The members of the 36-43rd have very little contact with Iraqis - except for Sergeant Comeau, who oversees the movement of Iraqi prisoners and uses certain detainees as go betweens to deal with the rest of the prisoners.
listen:
|
 |
The Laconia resident wants to thank his community and his co-workers at Smith Tubular for all the support.
listen:
|
 |
The Manchester resident has been in the service for 8 years and is looking forward to his leave to go visit his parents.
listen:
|
 |
Specialist Molburg guards Iraqi prisoners all day, and he'd rather be home in Keene.
listen:
|
 |
He was raised in New Hampshire, he loves to hunt, and he can't think of a place he'd rather be than on this mission in Iraq.
listen:
|
 |
When he's not guarding prisoners in Baghdad as a New Hampshire National Guardsman, the 20 year old is a student at UNH.
listen:
|
 |
The former Police Chief of Canterbury works in intelligence gathering at Camp Victory.
listen:
|
 |
The Assistant Supply Sergeant from Goffstown says she can't think of anywhere she'd rather be than in Iraq.
listen:
|
 |
This is Staff Sgt. Essman's second tour of Iraq. He volunteered because he believes in the mission and because his son is in Iraq too.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Levesque tells NHPR's Jon Greenberg about life at Camp Victory in Iraq.
listen:
|
 |
Staff Sgt. Rice is the 36-43rd Company's Supply Sergeant. He gets the troops what they need, and he also gets perfumed letters from home.
listen:
|
 |
Communications are better than ever for American troops stationed overseas. But Staff Sgt. Rick Pinette says there are still some difficulties that come with being far from home.
listen:
|
 |
Sgt. Kevin Ballentine of Merrimack talks about the prison the 36-43rd is assigned to.
listen:
|
 |
Bill Ferland is a Master Sergeant with the 36-43rd Company, currently stationed in Iraq.
listen:
|
 |
National Guard Specialist Lisa Knight talks with Mark Bevis about how she and the soldiers of the 36-43rd Company are getting along.
listen:
|
 |
The 36-43rd Company of the New Hampshire National Guard is settling into its new duties. First Sergeant Victor May talks about the company and its mission.
listen:
|
|
Captain Tony Gagnon talks about the 36-43rd's first two weeks in Iraq and their new mission.
listen:
|
Photos courtesy New Hampshire National Guard
