thedrifter
07-16-09, 06:30 AM
Municipal meeting broadcasts inspired Marine's work in Iraq
By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW — Marine Sgt. Joseph Nelson, who returned from his second Iraq tour three months ago, considers Plaistow his hometown, even though his family doesn't live here anymore.
Town officials made that official Monday night when they awarded him a Pride of Plaistow citation, in recognition of his military service.
It was local cable TV broadcasts of selectmen's meetings that inspired some of Nelson's work in Iraq.
Nelson, who was the Marine unit's data chief, acted as a mentor to Iraqi technicians, who developed the first municipal government Web site in Al Anbar province.
The Web site posted summaries of municipal meetings, blogs and polls. The site also helped recruit Iraqis for the local police force and spread the word about registering to vote in provincial elections.
The Marines also helped the Iraqis launch a newspaper and radio station. Those projects meant citizens of Rutbah, a western Iraq city near the borders with Syria and Jordan, could keep abreast of civic meetings and build their democracy.
Called Al Anbar Rutbah Today, the radio station broadcast city council meetings live and recapped local news.
In April, the Secretary of the Navy gave Nelson the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. His main job was providing reliable data and voice communications in support of the troops. But he also helped with the peace mission.
"Our mission was to wean the local government off the soldiers being the sole support," he said.
Nelson, 23, signed up with the Marine Corps six months after graduating from Timberlane Regional High School.
"I wasn't ready for college," he said. " I wanted to see what else was out there."
He said he chose the Marines because he wanted a challenge, and a role defending America from terrorists.
"We like to be the best," he said. "That's why I joined."
He expected to see combat, he said, and he saw both sides of the war.
During his first seven-month tour, he was stationed in Fallujah. His deployment, the First Battalion 25th Marines out of Fort Devens, lost 11 Marines and sailors.
Nelson own closest call came Aug. 20, 2006. He was the turret gunner when a roadside bomb hit his convoy. Nelson and a few other soldiers escaped serious injury, but suffered concussions.
Nelson was born in Michigan, where his mother still lives.When he was 16, he moved to Plaistow and lived with grandparents, Roy and Linda Johnson. He spent his junior and senior years at Timberlane Regional High. Although his grandparents have moved away, Nelson said he considers Plaistow his hometown.
He is still in the Reserves. He's settling back into civilian life. He has his old job back at BAE in Nashua, he's seeing old friends at home and he recently marched in Plaistow's Old Home Day parade.
Town Manager Sean Fitzgerald said it was heartwarming to see Nelson saluted by his hometown during the parade.
Ellie
By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW — Marine Sgt. Joseph Nelson, who returned from his second Iraq tour three months ago, considers Plaistow his hometown, even though his family doesn't live here anymore.
Town officials made that official Monday night when they awarded him a Pride of Plaistow citation, in recognition of his military service.
It was local cable TV broadcasts of selectmen's meetings that inspired some of Nelson's work in Iraq.
Nelson, who was the Marine unit's data chief, acted as a mentor to Iraqi technicians, who developed the first municipal government Web site in Al Anbar province.
The Web site posted summaries of municipal meetings, blogs and polls. The site also helped recruit Iraqis for the local police force and spread the word about registering to vote in provincial elections.
The Marines also helped the Iraqis launch a newspaper and radio station. Those projects meant citizens of Rutbah, a western Iraq city near the borders with Syria and Jordan, could keep abreast of civic meetings and build their democracy.
Called Al Anbar Rutbah Today, the radio station broadcast city council meetings live and recapped local news.
In April, the Secretary of the Navy gave Nelson the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. His main job was providing reliable data and voice communications in support of the troops. But he also helped with the peace mission.
"Our mission was to wean the local government off the soldiers being the sole support," he said.
Nelson, 23, signed up with the Marine Corps six months after graduating from Timberlane Regional High School.
"I wasn't ready for college," he said. " I wanted to see what else was out there."
He said he chose the Marines because he wanted a challenge, and a role defending America from terrorists.
"We like to be the best," he said. "That's why I joined."
He expected to see combat, he said, and he saw both sides of the war.
During his first seven-month tour, he was stationed in Fallujah. His deployment, the First Battalion 25th Marines out of Fort Devens, lost 11 Marines and sailors.
Nelson own closest call came Aug. 20, 2006. He was the turret gunner when a roadside bomb hit his convoy. Nelson and a few other soldiers escaped serious injury, but suffered concussions.
Nelson was born in Michigan, where his mother still lives.When he was 16, he moved to Plaistow and lived with grandparents, Roy and Linda Johnson. He spent his junior and senior years at Timberlane Regional High. Although his grandparents have moved away, Nelson said he considers Plaistow his hometown.
He is still in the Reserves. He's settling back into civilian life. He has his old job back at BAE in Nashua, he's seeing old friends at home and he recently marched in Plaistow's Old Home Day parade.
Town Manager Sean Fitzgerald said it was heartwarming to see Nelson saluted by his hometown during the parade.
Ellie