California man serving in Iraq
While his family waits for him back in California, Sgt. Nino Ovial tries to make the best of his job detaining 126 Enemy Prisoners of War (EPW’s) in Iraq. “I have an interesting job over here definitely,” said the Washington County native. Ovial said, “Dealing with prisoners is sure making for some good stories. Some of these Iraqi guys are funny once they get here and are put in prison.”
Through an e-mail interview, 25-year-old Ovial discussed the atmosphere where he is stationed in the northwestern part of Iraq in the city of Al Qiam, 17 miles south of the Syrian border. Ovial is with the 3rd ACR out of Fort Carson, Colo.
“Unfortunately, it looks like some of these Iraqi guys got smart,” said Ovial. “They have been planting ATMs or Anti-Tank Mines and have been messing up some of the tanks and other vehicles as they drive through the nearby villages.”
Ovial said a few U.S. casualties resulted from this radical activity.
“Before they were using RPGs or Rocket Propelled Grenades to shoot at our vehicles, but those don’t really do any damage to an armored vehicle like tanks and Bradleys,” he said.
High-level Ba’ath Party members, including a couple of two-star major generals are included in the number of detainees Ovial overlooks.
“What I do with the former Ba’ath Party members and the big guys we bring into prison is simple,” said Ovial. “Every detainee that we bring in gets the same treatment.”
Ovial’s job is to ensure the prisoners are fed, are getting water and are having a chance to use the bathroom.
“Most of them realize that they lost the war and it would not be right for me to treat them as I do a 19-year-old, so to say,” said Ovial. “We cannot physically touch them in any violent way. We use the most minimum force as necessary.”
Ovial said he met Central Command Commander Gen. John Abizad, who replaced Gen. Tommy Franks in August. Ovial also met L. Paul Bremmer, who works closely with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and President George Bush on personnel issues in Iraq.
On the home front, Ovial’s mother, Neldene, and his father, Joe Zajack, remain concerned about their son’s safety. Even Ovial’s 12-year-old brother, Bobby Zajack, wants to learn all he can about Iraq.
“Every night we say our prayers and wish for the best,” said Joe. “But, there’s always that nervousness.
“With the way they’re always being deployed, you have to treat every time you see them as it may be the last.”
Neldene noted it is a very stressful time without her son and she thinks the war is worse now than when it started months ago.
“I think it’s worse now with the suicide bombers blowing up buildings,” she said. “That’s what they’re trained to do and that’s their way of life.”
Nino’s parents said although their son didn’t have a direct passion to join the military when he was young, they noted that her son would listen to war stories told by his grandfathers who were in World War II.
“Before he left for Iraq, I asked him whether he had any regrets about going,” Joe said. “He said to me, ‘Dad, both of my grandfathers were in the war and the reason I go is because you, mom and Bob can be free. I don’t have any regrets.’
“We are really proud of him. He’s an excellent boy,” Joe said.
Neldene said Bobby, who is very close to Nino, is also proud of his brother.
“Bobby and Nino e-mail each other back and forth,” said Neldene. “Bobby’s whole class sent cards and his teacher sent care packages to Nino. Bobby shows everybody souvenirs Nino sends him from Iraq.”
Ovial said when he returns to Colorado and has a four-day weekend, he will sometimes fly home and spend “just enough time to get everyone riled up.”
Ovial said the last time he was home to California was in March, a few weeks before he left for Iraq.
“I’ve been gone for a few years now and it seems like the valley hasn’t changed one bit,” Ovial exclaimed.
Ovial has spent two years in the Army Reserves and five years in active duty, totaling seven years he has been with the United States Army.
“He took an opening in biological and chemical affairs,” said Joe. “He was in Korea for four years, working maintenance or repairing pieces used in biological warfare. But, since there isn’t any biological weapons begin used in Iraq, they have him processing prisoners.”
Upon arriving overseas, Ovial spent three weeks in Kuwait until his troop made its push northward into Iraq.
Ovial does not know when he will return to the states, although rumors about next year are circulating.
“I miss the luxuries of home such as the shower, real food, controlled temperature, but I mostly miss the food,” said Ovial. And, relaying an inside joke, he said, “However, I don’t miss my Mom’s pork chops.”
Neldene said the joke originated when Nino asked her to make him something different than pork chops because pork was all he ate while stationed in Korea.
Ovial graduated from California Area High School in 1996 and attended California University of Pennsylvania for one semester before joining the Army Reserves.
“I joined the Army mostly to travel and see the world, which I have done a lot of already,” he said. “I’ve been stationed in Korea, went to the Philippines for vacation and now I am here in ‘lovely’ Iraq,” said Ovial, joking in a manner widely known as one of his leading traits.