Happy homecoming

Laurie Dally joined the Army Reserves when she was only a junior at Pine River High School.

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Now after 25 years in the Army Reserves, Sgt. Maj. Dally will end her lengthy military career as an Iraqi war veteran who recently was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her work in Iraq.

Dally, who lives in Pillager with husband Ron Richardson, was greeted by family and friends as she got off the plane Feb. 13 at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. Dally works as a project manager at Hunt Technologies in Breezy Point, and several of her coworkers also met her at the airport.

Sgt. Maj. Laurie Dally of Pillager received a hug from her sister, Julie Durham, shortly after Dally arrived at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport after a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Dally is part of a multifunctional support command unit based in Rock Island, Ill., that was activated and mobilized for service. Dally was deployed Feb. 28, 2005, arriving in Iraq on March 23, 2005. She returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, on Feb. 6. She was one of 31 Reservists from her unit to be deployed, although only seven went to Iraq. Several went to Kuwait and Afghanistan with about 13 from the unit remaining at Rock Island, she said.

While Dally previously served on humanitarian missions, this was the first time she was part of a war mobilization. Soon after she returned home from Iraq last week, Dally joined the Jenkins VFW, something she could do now that she is a war veteran. Dally has been active in the American Legion and was named the 2000 Minnesota Army Reservist of the Year at the state American Legion convention.

April will mark Dally's 25th year in the Reserves. She is considering retiring this summer.

Dally received the Iraq Campaign Medal for serving in Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in January because of her extraordinary service in Iraq. Dally distinguished herself in the way she administered more than $4 million worth of construction and vehicular contracts, according to the recommendation made for her to receive the Bronze Star. She meticulously oversaw more than 100 contractors and the government, as well as provided safety and care for more than 100 assigned soldiers and contract civilians by implementing and executing a stringent force protection program.

She accomplished these tasks and more in an environment that incurred daily mortar and rocket attacks on the Camp Victory complex. Dally was primarily stationed in Baghdad but also in Balad, Iraq, working mostly 16-hour days.

Sgt. Maj. Laurie Dally of Pillager received a hug from her sister, Julie Durham, shortly after Dally arrived at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport after a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Dally made sure contractors and government workers had the equipment and supplies they needed while on the job. She worked closely with contractors, many of whom were Iraqi citizens. She said many of the Iraqis who worked with the Americans were not only hard-working, often taking few breaks as they worked, but they risked their lives to come to work. They couldn't trust anyone because often people would accept bribes from insurgents, who would harass or kidnap members of an Iraqi family if it was learned they worked for the Americans, said Dally.

"I found they worked really hard and were really grateful," Dally said of the Iraqis she worked with. "We take our security for granted here. They don't ever know who their friends are. It's a really unusual world. It's dog eat dog."

While the Iraqi contractors weren't used to taking orders from women, Dally said for the most part they seemed to accept her.

"They didn't necessary appreciate it," Dally said with a smile, speaking of when she stepped in and took charge of a situation. "But I was the one carrying the weapon."

When Dally left the military bases, it was always by air, not by convoy. Women soldiers are highly desirable targets of insurgents and the reward for capturing a female GI are great, said Dally. Part of Dally's job was to track down soldiers and make sure they were accounted for. At one point there was a rumor that a female soldier had been kidnapped. Dally had to make sure the women soldiers were safe and no one was missing.

Even though the Iraqis that Dally worked with appeared to be legitimate workers, there was always a possibility that one would accept a bribe from insurgents and attempt to throw her in a vehicle. Iraqis tend, as part of their culture, to stand close to you as they speak, which can be a little unsettling if you're already worried that you may be in danger.

"You have to stay on your toes," said Dally.

Sgt. Maj. Laurie Dally of Pillager received a hug from her sister, Julie Durham, shortly after Dally arrived at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport after a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

About two months after she arrived in Iraq a mortar landed and exploded about 16 meters away from the building where Dally was involved in a conference call to the United States. The pressure from the blast blew out the windows in the building.

"It was loud," said Dally. "Thank goodness it was only one."

Dally said one of the most interesting aspects of her work in Iraq was being involved with testing new technology in the war zone. She was involved with a Marine unit that was deploying robots that were defusing bombs. American forces are involved in Iraq with developing new equipment that save lives, she said.

She was involved in a mission to add armor to all Humvees and other military vehicles. Another new technology tested in the field was CROWS, or Common Remotely Operated Weapons Systems, which resembles a video game and allows a soldier to remain in a vehicle using a video system and joystick to fire upon the enemy with weapons attached outside the vehicle.

Another new technology being tested allows the military to jam the frequencies of remotely detonated roadside bombs to allow convoys to pass by them safely.

It's been an adjustment for Dally to return home. It's so quiet here, compared to the mortar attacks and gunfire she heard in Iraq, she said. She plans to have some much needed rest and time with her husband and family before returning to work at Hunt Technologies in April.

She and her husband, who celebrated their 10th anniversary last year apart, will go on a trip to Mexico soon to celebrate their 11th anniversary, which is next month. A couple of days after arriving home, she went sledding at her sister, Carol Harrington's, house in Pequot Lakes, a family tradition. Her five sisters and their families joined in for sledding and a bonfire. Her two brothers, who both live in Arizona, visited her when she arrived home at Fort Bliss.

Dally said she appreciated the cards, e-mails and care packages from home.

"I had really good care packages sent all the time," said Dally. "I used to provide snacks for the whole outfit."

Dally's niece, Tina Knolden, was stationed in Kuwait while Dally was in Iraq. Dally said they were elated to find out they both received a pass for a mini-vacation to Qatar on the same weekend. So they vacationed together.

"That lifted both of our spirits," said Dally.

Dally said it can be a small world, even if you're stationed halfway across the globe. She met a soldier from Hillman at the chow hall one night and two of her classmates from Pine River High School are working as contractors in Iraq.

JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.