By Natalie Morales
Enquirer staff writer

A year ago, soldiers with the 478th Army Engineer Battalion in Fort Thomas were in Iraq, helping the people there rebuild their lives and their communities.

Now, as the June 30 Iraqi sovereignty date draws near, the reservists are reflecting on how they helped the process.

WAR IN IRAQ

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Troops from the 478th Battalion who were in Iraq from March through August 2003 see a promising, independent future for the people of Iraq. But, they said, the process will take time.

Reservist Todd Phillips of Independence said the Iraqis made a lot of progress with the soldiers' help, but still have a long way to go.

The Iraqi people are stepping into positions needed to run the country and are interested in developing their independence, said Spc. Ben Wasson of Covington.

He anticipates the U.S. military will offer continued help to Iraq for the next five to 10 years, while the Iraqis learn to fill jobs to rebuild their country.

"I'd like to see the U.S. military back out a bit and play more of a big brother role, where we stay more on the outskirts of town but are only a call away if they need anything," said Wasson. "It's definitely up to the Iraqi people to do it themselves, and we should just be there for guidance."

Overall, the response of the Iraqi people to the U.S. military was mixed, said Spc. Joseph Bowman.

Some citizens were excited to see the soldiers and some had "glares and grimaces" on their faces.

"At times I was scared, but at other times I was comfortable and glad to be with the people and experience their culture," said Bowman, of Fort Wright.

Though Bowman, 24, acknowledged that rumors about redeployment surface often, Andrea Walton, rear detachment coordinator for the 478th Battalion, said there is no official word of the unit being sent back to Iraq anytime soon.

Wasson, who is studying at Cincinnati State to become a fire service technician, said he is trying to return to Iraq.

"I'm 22. I had a short deployment time the first time, and I just want to try to do my part," he said.

A former army ranger who served in Panama more than 20 years ago, Phillips said he felt prepared when he was deployed to Iraq and knows he could be called into service any day.

"It's another day at the office, but the office is just around the world," he said.

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E-mail nmorales@enquirer.com