McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

August 15, 2009

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

From U.S. Army reports

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.

Text Only
Local News
Seasonal Content
Poll

A recent study of southern tornadoes has found that storm shelters did not protect them. Where do you take shelter when tornadoes threaten?

A basement or cellar
A storm shelter
A hallway or closet
Bathtub
Other
I don't take shelter
     View Results
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
NDN Video
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China Beyonce Entertains the First Family Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7 Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges Has Snooki Named Her Baby? Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend Inspiration for the class of 2012 Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3" 80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini Sliders on the Grill Cruise ship crunch Backstage With Beyonce Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest Jenny McCarthy's New Man Tyler's Classic Coleslaw Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.