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Army Spc. Bill Rooney, a Combat Life Saver in the National Guard, was to leave for Baghdad on Friday after a two-week leave in Matthews. This Veterans Day, he should be back with his platoon in Iraq.
The former Matthews volunteer firefighter and EMT didn't enlist in the National Guard until four years ago. And he did it with the blessing of his wife, Kim. "I told him if he wanted to do it, now was the time," said Kim Rooney.
Then 35, Bill Rooney found himself in boot camp with soldiers much younger. Now, at 39, he says the years are taking a toll, but he's thankful to get a chance to serve his country overseas.
Though his leave was limited, he carved out a few hours to visit Boy Scout Troop 413 at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews.
There, Rooney received a hero's welcome with recognition from Matthews Mayor Lee Myers and N.C. Rep. Jim Gulley of Mecklenburg.
Troop committee chairman Larry Ashworth presented Rooney with an American flag that had flown over the capitol in Washington, D.C. Rooney presented the troop with an American flag, complete with sand, which had flown over Bagdad.
Rooney was overwhelmed at the attention and said he was only doing his job.
"This is just what we do," Rooney said. "I'm not the only one out there. There are 4,000 of us that were deployed in February. We live together, eat together, get on each other's nerves, and watch each others' backs, just like a regular family."
His platoon's primary mission is to find illegal ammunition stockpiles. In the past eight months, they've found and destroyed 18 tons of illegal weapons.
They patrol every day and also visit area schools to offer assistance.
"School started there two weeks ago," Rooney said. "In most schools, there is no electricity, no bathrooms, no windows and no running water. The floors are dirt.
"Students spend eight hours in class, fours days a week, with no lunch break. We check the school grounds to make sure they are safe and deliver school supplies when available."
Recently, they discovered a weapons cache in a school yard.
"The insurgents will hide weapons anywhere they don't think we will look," Rooney said.
His unit is scheduled to return to the U.S. at the end of January, but dates are always subject to change.
He says troop morale varies day to day, depending on the current mission and the news from back home.
Though there are many "Support our troops" bumper stickers and ribbons around, he says not all are so supportive.
"I was out to eat with a buddy last week and a guy at the next table struck up a conversation with us, saying he couldn't believe anybody would go over there voluntarily and fight," Rooney said. "Some people are so against the war that they are against everything about it - including us.
"But that's part of why we do what we do. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and that's one of the reasons we are there. We're fighting so they can keep that freedom."
