Ellicott, Colorardo Firefighter Takes Job In Iraq For Chance To Serve, Not For Money

ELLICOTT, Colo. (AP) -- The day after Father's Day, Michael Gerrard said goodbye to his wife and son at the Colorado Springs airport to spend a year as a civilian firefighter in Iraq. While Gerrard's family supported his decision, the separation hasn't been easy.

``I think it's good what he's doing for the country, but ... I'm lonely,'' said 14-year-old Jace. ``It's lonely without my best friend.''

Gerrard, 41, made his living as a salesman and served as a volunteer firefighter for the Falcon Fire Department. Now, he's an employee of the security giant Wackenhut Corp., which is hiring 500 civilian firefighters to fill a government contract in Iraq. In late June, he was one of the first firefighters to arrive in Iraq, and one of the few who is not single.

He's inside Camp Victory in Baghdad, near the site of Saddam Hussein's trial, near the danger only soldiers typically face. Gerrard will see his family only twice before his return next June.

``As a wife, it's hard for me,'' Terri Gerrard said. ``And we happen to be very much in love. If we didn't like each other, it might be a different story. It's difficult to have him gone, but we support him 100 percent in what he wants to do.''

Jace has played a baseball tournament without his dad in the bleachers. He'll soon start football season at Ellicott High School without his personal coach.

Mother and son are also close, and Jace said their bond is growing stronger without his dad around. The two don't seem surprised about Michael Gerrard's decision.

For many people taking contract work in Iraq, money is the draw. Wackenhut's firefighters will make more than $90,000 a year, tax free. But that wasn't the main motivation for Gerrard.

He had wanted a career in the military when he was young, but a problem with his foot kept him on the sidelines. When Gerrard discovered an ad in Firehouse Magazine seeking firefighters in Iraq, the idea was reborn.

``I actually kind of talked him into it,'' Jace said. ``I knew he'd want to do it in the end. He's just behind America and President Bush 100 percent.''

This was a way for Gerrard to live a dream that he thought he'd never fulfill.

``He is an extremely patriotic person,'' Terri said. ``This was an opportunity for him to serve his country. We've been together 16 years. I've always known he was a very patriotic man, and I would never have stopped him from doing this.''

On the other hand, Terri has been worried since her husband left. More than 90 U.S. contract workers who went to Iraq have been killed since May 2003. Stories of civilians being kidnapped and beheaded terrify her _ the images of men with black bags over their heads are too much, so she's unplugged from all media while Michael is overseas.

``I don't watch the news or read the papers. I want to be uninformed right now,'' Terri said. ``Some of the girls at work were talking about the most recent (civilian execution). I said, 'I'm not aware of it, and please don't make me any more aware of it.' It's very scary.''

Because he has to share a handful of phones and computers with thousands of others, Gerrard contacts his family when he can, even if his only chance comes in the middle of the night. He e-mailed The Gazette for this story.

``I think we all feel the same,'' Gerrard wrote. ``We have talked about it many times _ the firefighters are really proud to be giving back to the troops, as they have given so much for us. ...Our patriotism has grown beyond any compensation we are making.''

Gerrard told his wife that he hasn't faced any major emergencies inside Camp Victory.

It's a good thing, since - in addition to fighting fires and providing emergency medical support - the firefighters must build an infrastructure: firehouses, hydrants, up-to-date equipment. Gerrard told Terri his team is working with an ancient Iraqi fire truck that's on its last legs.

But the challenge is why he's there, and Toby Saben, a full-time firefighter at Falcon Fire Department, believes Gerrard is up for the task.

``He'd do anything for anybody, a good guy,'' said Saben. ``He totally enjoyed wildland fires, but he was good at structural fires, too.''

Saben said you won't catch him going to Iraq any time soon.

``Those guys are making $100,000,'' Saben said, ``It's just not worth getting shot at.''

But Gerrard views his experience as a payback to Uncle Sam, and the reward is not measured in greenbacks. His family understands that.

``We feel very proud of him, miss him terribly, but support him completely,'' Terri said.