Reserve soldier brings something special to Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq -- We have a saying in the Army, "everyone brings something special to the table." It's those unique talents, not part of their military occupational specialty, that sets Soldiers apart when a unit is the first of its kind in camp.

MSG David B. Hall, Host Nation NCOIC, 561st Corps Support Group (CSG) from Omaha, Neb., can be found covered with sawdust on most days. From building desks, repairing or remaking doors or operating heavy equipment, Hall said no task was too great.

"We each come to this unit with two skills," he said. "There's my civilian skill and my military skill. I'm glad I've been able to use my civilian occupation here."

His background is in construction. Hall is capable of handling small electrical concerns, building almost anything--including a tactical operations center--and teaching others to operate equipment.

He's a superintendent of a paving crew in Omaha, Neb. He is also a licensed Hoisting and Portable Engineer, which means he is allowed to operate heavy equipment like Komatsu backhoes and 10-ton dump trucks, which allows him to be the licensing authority for the group. He said every little bit helps and that was why he deployed with his personal tools.

Putting up walls, leveling floors, running wires and installing circuit breakers is nothing new to Hall. He barely finished building his house before his unit deployed to Iraq. Hall carries photos of his dream home and with deserved pride he will show it off if asked.

"I built my own home," he said and then chuck-led. "This is starting to feel like home, because I'm doing a lot of building here."

Though it's been tough to get wood in the desert, he's been able to build practical furniture like shelving units and a custom-made desk for the group commander--proof of his resourceful nature.

Yet, all his experience has culminated in one specific rule. "I think safety, it's a very big issue with me," Hall said.

That is almost a contradiction knowing something about his background.

He entered the Army Reserve in 1980 as a mechanic, became a drill sergeant and switched to being a cavalry scout in 1989. Hall got to the 561st CSG as heavy-wheeled mechanic. "I've been in the Army for 25 years and (it feels like) I'm doing everything backwards," he said.

He expected to start his career with frequent deployments and graduate to a desk job. But he said he was ending his career with this 545-day activation, although he had already submitted his retirement papers weeks prior to activation.

"I could have gotten out of this, but I wanted to do my part," he said.

"I wasn't picked up for Desert Storm," he said. "I've never been deployed before, and when it comes time to tell my son and daughter about my experiences, I can be proud to say I didn't duck out and run."

The group's mobilization mission is to provide the full spectrum of combat service support to an Army corps, while maintaining its assigned units in ready status.

The 561st CSG arrived in October 2004 and is in the process of building Al Asad into a general supply hub providing supplies to the surrounding areas of operations.

COPYRIGHT 2005 U.S. Army Reserve
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group