Spotswood welcomes alumni back from war

Three Iraq War veterans are home for the holidays. The Spotswood High School alumni paid a visit to the History Club at their alma mater after school Dec. 20 to share stories about their experiences at war.

DANIEL HULSHIZER staff U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Hayes shows students an Iraqi flag that flew where he was stationed. Hayes, a Spotswood High School graduate who spent seven months as a watch officer at a police station in Iraq, presented the flag to teacher Frank Yusko (l) during a Dec. 20 program. "It's just so good to be home," Army National Guard Lt. Mike Lacertosa said. "The best thing about being home is just being around family, and just things we take for granted - a lot of the freedoms you have when you're home - the ability to just sit down and watch TV ... the idea of not looking over your back every time you turn around; that's always a plus."

Lacertosa, 28, and Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Hayes, 26, were presented with a cake from history teacher Frank Yusko and his students to welcome them home.

Marine Capt. Bezan Morris, a 1995 graduate, sent along a video message to the group from Phoenix, Ariz.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL HULSHIZER staff Above: U.S. Army Lt. Mike Lacertosa takes a look at the large cake given to him during the Dec. 20 "Welcome Home" event for him and other Spotswood High School graduates who have fought in Iraq. Behind him is Marine Lance Cpl. Steve Hayes. Above right: Cpl. Hayes tells students about his service in Iraq. "The greatest gift any of us can give our veterans are two words- thank you," Morris said.

Morris also gave some personal thanks to Yusko, saying the 19- year veteran teacher has always extended his support to those in town who have served their country in times of war.

Hayes, an infantryman in the city of Ramahdi, spent seven months in Iraq as a watch officer at the police station there. It was also his job to train the Iraqi police force. There was only one Marine to every 30 Iraqi police officers.

"We learned a lot of Arabic," Hayes said. "We wanted to learn Arabic and the Iraqis wanted to learn English, so we'd go back and forth. There was a great relationship. The police took us in as if they were family."

In true familial fashion, the mother of an Iraqi officer baked a birthday cake forHayes to commemorate his special day,Aug. 14.Another officer supplied the soldiers at the station with wireless Internet access so they could keep in touchwith their families and friends.

"It's not the Iraqis [who are bad], it's al- Qaedawho is in Iraq,"Hayes said. "There are bad Iraqis, but there are badAmericans too."

Hayes carried on the goodwill of the Iraqis, presenting Yusko with the Ramahdi flag that flew over the police station, along with a shirt worn by Iraqi officers as part of their uniform. The shirt was embroidered with the phrase, "God is the biggest,"written inArabic.

With the help of theMarines, the Iraqi police force nearly doubled in size over the seven months Hayes was there, he said.

"We never expected the police force to grow asmuch as it did while we were there," Hayes said. "Sixmonths before, theywere all just regular civilians.When the Iraqis stand up for their country ... that's when there will be a lot less violence."

About 60 kilometers west of Fallujah, Ramahdi was once the most dangerous city in the world, according to Hayes.

"You're always in fear because you're in Iraq, but you know the Iraqi police are going to protect you," Hayes said. "They did an amazing job of security."

In working closely with the Iraqis, Hayes ate all native foods. His meals consisted mostly of falafel,which ismade fromgroundup chickpeas and served in pita bread, and kebab, an elongated meat patty wrapped in bread. According to Hayes, the kebab meat was said to be lamb, but at times he was not so sure.

"At times, the lamb barked ormeowed before you ate it, but you ate it anyway,"Hayes joked.

Lacertosa,whoseunitwas one of the first to enter Baghdad in 2003, had a different experience in Iraq. In charge of security for his base, Lacertosa had less contactwith the Iraqis.

Lacertosa explained that about 100 bunkers were found, containing all types of ammunition from around the world belonging to SaddamHussein's regime, the People's Mujahedin of Iraq (PMOI).

"They did his bidding," Lacertosa said. "They actually had the world's largest CAV [cavalry] division."

Remarkably, the cavalry unit of the PMOI is composed of all women, and women ran the regime as a whole.

"The tanks they had were so small that women fit perfectly in the tanks," Lacertosa said.

In 2003, the regime surrendered its weapons and became protected under the Geneva Convention. Lacertosa said they would often sneak onto his base to be given asylum. After extensive background checks, the United States government would help themget their lives back, he said.

Over time, the number of refugees at Lacertosa's base grew, dwindling the regime from its original number of close to 500 to about 160 by 2007, he said.

Lacertosa's contact with the Iraqis consisted mainly of talking with their security personnel on a daily basis, he said.

Hismeals also differed greatly fromthose of Hayes.

"Halliburton took very good care of us," Lacertosa said. "I'm surprised I didn't gain thatmuch weight when I was over there."

Aside fromthreemeals a day, Lacertosa's unit also enjoyed what they referred to as "midnight rats," or in laymen's terms, another ration served late night, consisting of a fullmeal.On Fridays, the troops had their fill of delicacies like prime rib, lobster, shrimp and crab, Lacertosa said.Holidaymealswere even better.

"If it wasn't for the shooting, it would be very nice," Lacertosa said.

Aside fromshooting, the soldiers also had to worry about underground mines. Lacertosa said some naval officerswere brought in. One of them had the duty of ensuring that electronic countermeasures onmilitary vehicles were working properly. The devices would block electronic signals sent by enemy soldiers to detonate underground explosives so that U.S. vehicles could pass safely through a given area.

"After the last vehicle would pass, then it would go off," Lacertosa said. "Alot of times, [the explosives]were hooked up to something as simple as a cell phone."

Militants used everyday household items in their explosives, such aswasher timers and even babymonitors, according to Lacertosa.

He said he was grateful to have his laptop with himduring his time in Iraq, as it allowed him to make Internet calls to friends and family on a regular basis. Fellowsoldiers would often borrow the keys to his office to make calls to their loved ones.

"It's a connection that, really, you kind of need, otherwise you just go crazy," Lacertosa said. Though Hayes had access to the Internet several times a week, he did not enjoy the luxury ofmaking phone calls.

"There were times that we couldn't get Steve, and those times were terrible times," said hismother, RobynHayes, a special education teacher at Spotswood High School. "It was very difficult. It's great to have him home.We're very grateful."

Yusko said he had regular e-mail contact with bothHayes and Lacertosa, and students adopted Lacertosa's unit, sending them care packages. About 30 graduates of Spotswood High Schoolwho attended duringYusko's career are now war veterans from either Afghanistan or Iraq, he said.

"You're still always going to be a part of the Spotswood family, and we all love you," Yusko told the two soldiers.

Though Hayes and Lacertosa may be going back to Iraq at some point, they are both taking it in stride and enjoying their time home with family and friends.

"I really liked it there, I enjoyedmy time," Hayes said. "If the opportunity comes up, I would love to go back to Ramahdi."

Though Hayes said he missed his loved ones at home, he found respite in the new friends and "family" hemade there.

Lacertosa grew used to giving orders in Iraq, and more importantly, having them followed without question. But he said his military rank does not holdwaterwith his sisters.

"I'm not used to people telling me, 'No, I won't do that,'" Lacertosa joked.