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Newark man on second tour in Iraq
Nearing the end of his second tour of duty in the Middle East, Master Sgt. Jim McBride Jr. was home on leave for two weeks and enjoyed the great early summer weather with his family. McBride started the long tedious trip back to Iraq last Monday, accompanied by family to the Rochester airport, and started a trip expected to take 18 hours. His first deployment was in Afghanistan five years ago. Jim and Vicki McBride live on Stebbins Road and have four adult children and seven grandchildren. He is employed by the U.S. Postal Service and will return to his job in Henrietta in November, when his tour of duty is finished. A member of the U.S. Army Reserves headquartered at Fort Drum, Master Sgt. McBride is with the F.E.R. Facilities Engineering Team that designs, builds, and maintains bases, improving the quality of life of U.S. soldiers. The team works closely with Iraq businesses and contract people. What is it like in Iraq? McBride says the temperatures now hover around 118 degrees with lows of 55-60 and highs of 126 degrees. The countryside is barren, but fertile. The best areas are near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Always in Danger - As with any 'unconventional' war, even if you are not on the front line, there is constant danger of mortar fire, rockets, and snipers. 'I am proud of what I do,' said McBride, adding that his job improves the quality of life for service personnel. What is not portrayed by the media is the fact that provinces are being handed over to local control in a timely manner, making it possible for the local military to sustain peace. 'The people there want freedom, ' he said, bringing back electric power, sewer and water services, so important to maintaining the peace in Iraq. He continued to stress that elections are happening and women now have a voice. Copyright
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