U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

Story by Master Sgt. Patricia Freeland

By Senior Master Sgt.Trish Freeland
U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

TAJI, Iraq - Iraq sits about 15 miles north of Baghdad. Twenty years ago, it was the center of military excellence for the Iraqi combat machine, the former home of "Chemical Ali". Today the new Iraqi military has charge of the base and is assisted by dozens of advisors supplied by the U.S. Army. An unsung handful of those advisors, are Combat Airmen from the U.S. Air Force assisting the Iraqis with everything from water and fuel distribution to setting up a formidable base defense system.

Tech. Sgt. David Burgess, an electrical power production specialist from Goodland, advises the Iraqi army on generator operation. Burgess oversees 204 generators on the Iraqi side of Camp Taji. Each one supplies power to about 800-1200 people.

Known as a "take-charge" kind of leader, Burgess, a Wayland University graduate, found it difficult to simply watch the Iraqis manage their generators rather than jumping in to run the operation for them. His years as instructor helped him restrain himself.

"It's tough to watch a process that you know is going to be unsuccessful. But as an instructor I know my students won't learn what I teach if I do everything for them," he says. "Sometimes they surprise me when I think their way of doing something won't work, only to watch them do it their way and do so successfully."

The generators Burgess oversees support the Iraqi Air Force basic training program as well as dining facilities and dormitories for the Iraqi army.

"It feels good to do something as simple as providing a cool place to retreat to after a hard day of training in the sun, says Burgess.

Burgess has learned a lot about patience from his Iraqi counterparts, especially Mr. Al Salihi who's been a generator operator at Camp Taji since 2005.

"He hasn't been paid in about a month, yet he comes to work everyday with smile and works extremely hard," says Burgess. "He knows we're going to work things out with his pay and he's so patient."

For Al Salihi, the sacrifice is unquestionable.

"This is important for the future of Iraq and my family," he says.

Burgess understands that as well. One of his proudest accomplishments is the fact his Iraqi counterparts now need less and less of his help.

"When I present a problem to them and tell them what the end result should be, they come up with a solution to get that result", says Burgess. "It may not be the U.S. way of doing things, but if it's a way that works for them, that's what matters. They have to find what they can maintain long after we've all gone home."

As his year-long tour in Iraq draws to a close, the 12-year Air Force veteran turns his heart towards home and the family he's missed for months. His post-deployment calendar is already full.

"My 5-year old daughter [Dailynn] has already told me I'm taking her fishing and my son
[Quentin] wants a father–son trip to Dallas."

Later this month, Sgt. Burgess returns to duty at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas where he'll resume his duties as a civil engineering instructor.

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