Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 2 : Fall 2010 | Page 27

was nothing saying that we wouldn’t go.”

Before long, National Guard units were called
up from all over Maine. “It was getting to the point that
Maine had been picked so much, and I was thinking I
was either going with the guys I knew by volunteering to
go over, or I’m going to be going with the people I don’t
even know. It was going to happen eventually.” Rogers had
been married for only a few years, with step-children and
a young daughter of his own. He eventually chose to go
with the soldiers he knew as friends, rather than waiting to
be deployed with strangers. Rogers
and others in his company signed
up to go to Iraq with a mountain
infantry unit out of Brewer. The
training was challenging at first,
as soldiers from both infantry and
artillery units were mixed together.
In the end, “We were a well-oiled
machine, we were pretty cool.”

After his arrival in Kuwait,
Rogers’ initial assignment was
convoy security. The duty consisted
of providing escort with gun trucks,
to shipments of fuel, ammunition,
mail, and other supplies. Over
the following months, the
responsibilities of both planning
and carrying out these convoys
were shifted over to Rogers’ unit,
with Rogers starting out as a team
leader and later becoming the
convoy commander. “We called all
the shots, we provided the security,
we did all of the maps, we made
sure everyone was fed, we took care
of it.”

Soon after they arrived,
Rogers’ company began making
some definite changes in day-to-day happenings on the
base. An example was organizing classes, for soldiers who
had been there for a while, and for the new soldiers. The
classes ranged from instruction on assembling the .50
caliber machine gun, to combat medics teaching soldiers
how to administer their own IV’s. Rogers’ company made
sure that most of the soldiers’ wants were taken care of. “It’s
not that I’m from the state of Maine, but the way we are in
Maine. We were all more than happy to do something for
everybody else…this was something that our company was
proud of, something that wasn’t happening before.”

The situation in Iraq was similar to Vietnam, in that
no one ever knew where the next attack was coming from.
Rogers recalled several times when rockets would strike

the base, proving that the danger was always there from an
unseen enemy. Many insurgents would be dressed just like
the regular population.

Unlike Vietnam or other wars in which the United
States has fought, soldiers in Iraq were able to keep a
relatively steady connection to home through the internet
and pre-paid phone cards. Rogers’ company even chipped
in and bought two satellite dishes and their own internet
system. “Technology is amazing now, that was one good
thing that saved a lot of good men over there, being able to
talk to loved ones.”

Returning to the US
brought much relief to the
soldiers of Rogers’ company and
their families. Arriving at the
airport, they were greeted with
cheers from their families and
from crowds who came to thank
them and give them handshakes.
After loading onto the buses, the
soldiers returned to Maine with
an honorary police escort. Rogers
reflected on the huge reception
they received. “In Vietnam, there
were few people thanking them,
which is sad to think about. It was
not because they chose to be there,
but they were forced there.” Rogers
has settled back into everyday life
in Fort Fairfield.

The
perceptions
of
departing soldiers and returning
veterans have changed Americans’
viewpoints over the years, and
Aroostook County has been no
exception - from the patriotism
Shawn Rogers
of World War II, to Vietnam
era protests, to the enthusiastic
crowds welcoming our servicemen and women home from
Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers and sailors from northern
Maine have gone to war for various reasons; for the love of
country or just because they had to. Those who were born
here returned to a place that was home; while other Maine
veterans discovered Aroostook County later, drawn by
family relationships or job opportunities, or by the allure
of living on an open landscape perfect for winter activities
like snowmobiling. Ken Peters loves hunting and fishing in
the North Maine Woods. “I even don’t mind the winters up
here. Somebody once asked me, ‘Why don’t you go back to
the coast?’, and I said, ‘Because I like it up here!’”

FALL & WINTER 09 Aroostook's Veterans 25