Published: August 15, 2009 04:59 pm      

Area man says his tour in Iraq ‘most rewarding experience’

Pete Bonicelli, an electrician at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, is experiencing his most “interesting, exciting and rewarding” time of his life while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I have done and seen things that I couldn’t even have imagined prior to deploying,” he said.

Bonicelli has flown in Army Blackhawk helicopters, Air Force C-17 and C-130 aircraft; U.S. Marine CH-46 and CH-47 helicopters and their Osprey aircraft.

“The Osprey takes off and lands like a helicopter but the engines rotate so they fly like a plane. The Osprey has a very unique feel to it. I describe it as feeling as though the aircraft just slips through the air,” he said.

“. . . my flight with the Marines was special and I’d say the neatest flight I have ever had,” he said. Bonicelli hopes to have an opportunity to ride in the Osprey again before his deployment ends.

He says he’s also met and worked with “fantastic people” and is eating great food. But despite all this, he misses his family, friends, the ammunition plant and the city of McAlester.

However, “I’m damn glad I did this and feel very honored and privileged to be able to serve our great country in this capacity,” he said.

As an electrical inspector, Bonicelli travels throughout Iraq inspecting electrical systems at Army Materiel Command facilities and works with electrical contractors correcting wiring discrepencies and making electrical repairs.

He said he has corrected numerous situations at facilities that did not have proper grounding to water systems, pumps, and heaters, thereby preventing potential injuries due to electrocution.

Just the presence of Bonicelli can raise the morale of soldiers located in isolated parts of Iraq.

For example, an Army unit had been without water, flushable toilets and showers for several days. Bonicelli arrived and repaired the system, immediately boosting the morale of hundreds of sand-encrusted Soldiers.

Much to his surprise, Bonicelli was presented his first commanders coin for his spirit raising repairs. “I am very proud of it and carry it with me everywhere I go. I just can’t put into words how much this meant to me,” he said.

During the presentation the commander specifically mentioned how much they appreciated him fixing their water and raising their morale.

“I already had a great satisfying feeling having been able to repair this system for them and was completely astonished at the commander’s coin presentation,” he said.

Despite how much Bonicelli is enjoying his deployment, his service there is not without hardships. Bonicelli notes that their work hours are 12 hours a day, seven days a week. “Sometimes because of flight times or emergencies we will work longer hours,” he said.

He misses his wife and kids but they understand why he is in Iraq and are proud of his service there.

There is an upside to being separated from his family. “I’ve made lots of new friend that I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life,” Bonicelli said.