TALLIL AIR BASE — An Arkansas father and son team are part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ massive rebuilding efforts throughout Iraq.
Denver and Eric Gillespie will soon be completing their six-month tours and say what made the deployment so special was meeting, working with, and getting to know the Iraqi people.
Shortly after returning stateside, Denver will be retiring. He says the Iraq deployment was a great way to finish his 34-year career with USACE, where he currently serves as the senior electrician at the Greers Ferry hydroelectric power station; the same facility where his father worked and also retired.
Eric has been with USACE nine years and currently is an operator and diver at Murray Lock and Dam near Little Rock. He says he’s hopeful at some point he gets an opportunity to relocate to Greers Ferry to become the third-generation Gillespie to work there.
In Iraq, the Gillespies are construction representatives with the Adder Area Office at Tallil Air Base. Eric is helping ensure quality work at seven projects worth more than $50 million including the new 80-bed Maysan Surgical Hospital, the Iraqi Army’s new Maymona Location Command, expansion of two roads, and the upgrade of the Amarah Landfill with a new incinerator, all in Maysan Province.
Denver is overseeing $150 million in projects including the expansion of the Tallil airfield, the new Ur Location Command for the Iraqi Army, and upgrading two electrical substations in Dhi Qar Province.
One of the highlights of the tour, they say, was visiting Al Haboosh Primary School in December to hand out toys, soccer balls and school supplies to the 225 students there.
That school is located next to a new $650,000 water treatment plant that will provide access to clean water to that community for the first time. The local tribal leader, Shaykh Abdul Razak, says residents there had historically just pumped raw water out of the local canal for household use. “It is very bad water,” he said. “This project is important for the health of everyone who lives here. It’s a great sign of progress.”
Denver says he’s grateful to get an opportunity to see this part of the world — geographical landmarks mentioned in the Bible – such as the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and the ancient city of Ur where Abraham was raised. Denver has been a volunteer minister for the past 15 years and when he retires April 1, will become the full-time pastor at the McJesterBaptist Church in Pangburn, Ark.
“In Iraq, family is everything” Denver explained. “Whether the father is a truck driver or a camel herder, you see their sons close by – learning the trade, being mentored, getting schooled about life. It’s a bond that I admire.”
The Gillespies have a close-knit family as well. Back in the states, they live near each other in Tumbling Shoals, Ark., and enjoy camping and going to church together. During their time off in Iraq, they lift weights together, go to aerobics, and are members of the district softball team. “It’s been a blast,” Denver commented.
Denver and Eric are Navy veterans. Denver was a boiler technician on the aircraft carrier USS Midway during Vietnam. Eric was a machinist mate on the aircraft carrier USS Constellation. Denver also spent time as an anti-submarine warfare operator.
“It’s been awesome getting this chance to serve with Dad – being part of his last hurrah before he closes this chapter on his life,” Eric said. “We’re both very proud to be members of the USACE team here – seeing how appreciative the Iraqi people are of our efforts. We are making a difference.”