Coach, back from Iraq, to throw out first pitch

BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

MILLTOWN — Special Agent Michael Mohr’s first detail in Iraq required a few lifestyle adjustments.

“It was a big change,” Mohr said. “I was living in a trailer with four people, on a bunk bed, eating military food. I lost 30 pounds, which is a good thing, I guess. And then on a daily basis we were being attacked by the insurgents with mortar fire and rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire.”

Mohr, who has lived in Milltown with his wife, Laurie, for 11 years, works for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly known as the ATF.

He was selected to join a task force that included other ATF agents, FBI agents, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and U.S. marshals that was deployed to Iraq 3 1/2 months ago.

The task force, part of the Regime Crimes Liaison Office (RCLO), was assigned to investigate Iraqi war crimes.

“We were responsible for putting together the investigation for the war crimes committed by Saddam Hussein and his regime,” Mohr explained.

The job entailed interviewing witnesses and victims of war crimes, and interrogating “high-value detainees.”

The group was stationed about three miles south of Baghdad.

“You are selected by your agency to participate,” Mohr said. “Our headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and I was selected to be put on this assignment. And then everybody from all the different agencies did a week training at the FBI academy in Virginia before we departed.”

While he certainly missed hot showers and home-cooked meals, the transportation was a little different too.

“The military provided us the transportation,” he said. “Every time we had to go out, we either went by military Humvee with escorts or Black Hawk helicopter.”

After serving for more than three months, Mohr has been treated to a well-earned welcome home.

His sons, Christopher, who is in third grade, and Nicholas, who is in kindergarten, are students at Joyce Kilmer School.

“And both their classes made these gigantic posters, and they signed them,” Mohr said. “I walked my kids to school when I got back and they were outside there. It was really nice.”

Members of the community also made it clear that Mohr was in their thoughts while he was away. St. Paul’s Church sent three separate care packages to Mohr’s unit, including cookies, toothpaste, books and toiletries.

“And I thought that was really nice, and we shared the goods with the military people we were working with also, and they appreciated it,” Mohr said.

After getting readjusted to life in Milltown and the eight-hour time difference — “That first week’s a little rough,” he noted — Mohr returned to his full-time job of investigating illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking with the ATF, in conjunction with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

But he has another treat in store this Saturday, when Mohr will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Milltown Little League’s opening day festivities.

Mohr coaches his sons’ teams — and has some experience playing, too.

“I was on a state championship team when I was in high school, so I’ve been playing baseball almost my whole life,” Mohr said.

Mohr said he enjoys coaching and wanted to stay involved in the sport after his playing days were over.

“And I figured I’d give to the kids what I learned through my days playing, and help develop some of the kids,” he said.

Mohr said he was honored by the invitation to throw out the first pitch, and is happy to be back in his beloved hometown.

“It’s a small community, everybody helps each other out, it’s safe, it’s a quiet area, it has great activities for the children, and the schools are excellent,” Mohr said.

Mohr is thankful for the support the community has shown him, but was especially moved by the presentation from his sons’ classes.

“The kids did a really nice job, and they were all proud,” Mohr said. “And I was proud.”