Gronholz enjoys 'normal' life again

Back home after three months in Iraq

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Paul Gronholz is enjoying "normal" life again these days after three months in Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserve Psychological Operations unit.

Much of his time was spent playing recorded messages and music to prisoners at the prisoner of war camp at the Bagdad airport that is still closed to international air traffic. The recorded messages instructed prisoners what to do and when to do it.

Other than the heat -- about 120° F. in the shade without air conditioning -- and lots of MREs (meals ready to eat), the duty in Iraq wasn't too bad, Gronholz said.

Gronholz described the heat by saying it was like opening a hot oven. Driving a vehicle in Iraq was like aiming a blow dryer at your face. The temperature fell to about 85 degrees at night. He often woke up sweating and wet with nightly dew.

"There was no escape from the heat that could drive you crazy," Gronholz said.

His favorite MRE contained an enchilada. The popular beans and franks MREs from Gulf War I a dozen years ago were not available but he did eat about a dozen different types of them. His daily ration usually included a bottle or two of water that sometimes served as his daily shower.

His featured meal each day was one t-ration, a larger MRE portion.

He likened sandstorms to blizzards, since sand would pile up much like wind-driven snow.

Duty usually lasted 6-8 hours a day. Off-duty time was spent playing cards, playing catch with a baseball or football, playing a little basketball and tossing horseshoes.

Gronholz had the chance to drink non-alcoholic beer but turned it down, saying he didn't want to tease himself with it. Receiving care packages from relatives and friends from home was a big highlight, since his food choices were so limited in the desert.

Gronholz often washed his clothes in a five-gallon tub, using dish washing soap.

He was never fired upon but he saw plenty of smoke and heard many explosions earlier in the war.

"We weren't sure, but we reasoned that the explosions were from EOD (explosive ordinance disposal)," Gronholz said.

Sometimes, the explosions shook the ground, waking him up. One of the more heart-rending experiences he had in Iraq was seeing small children begging in the street.

"It made me appreciate our lifestyle in America," Gronholz said. "Other than apartments in bigger cities, most houses there are made of mud."

In Iraq, Gronholz missed things like grilling out, eating and drinking cold items and going to the store whenever he wanted to.

Needless to say, he was thrilled to be back home with his wife Holly and two small children. The realization that he had them waiting at home kept him going while in Iraq.

Little news was available to him. Most of it came from letters from home and an occasional online story that was printed out and posted by his superior officers.

Gronholz doesn't regret his being sent to war. He dealt with it by praying a lot and remembering his family and friends and the thought of seeing them again.

"I feel good about what we did there," Gronholz said. "I believe we made the right choice. The people there are much better off now now. The way Saddam and the Bath Party lived there and the way most people live there is like comparing the U.S. Capitol to a mud house."

Gronholz goes back to work this week for a Pepsi bottler in Mankato. He has one semester of classes left before he will graduate with a degree in law enforcement.

Despite the possibility of being recalled to active duty within six months, Gronholz plans to continue his Army Reserve career. With just 3 1/2 years in, he is already an E-5.

Paul's wife Holly is finding life more enjoyable these days too, although she had lots of offers of help while her husband was overseas.

"I'm glad he's here. We're back to our routine life," Holly said. "A neighbor mowed my lawn, without my asking. He just mowed it when he thought it needed it. People talked to me at work, offering to help or just asking about Paul. I never asked for any help. I learned to make do and do things my way."

"Holly's a strong woman," Paul said.

She did things like take apart the plumbing when her diamond earrings fell down the drain.