LaBelle man returning to Afghanistan to work on reconstruction
Christine Haines
Mark Smith of LaBelle says he’s a little anxious about his return to Afghanistan for a 12-month civilian deployment, but spending time with friends helps take his mind off his nervousness.
From left, Mark Smith of LaBelle, shares a few laughs over coffee with friends Tony Bollibon and Dave Androsik just days before his scheduled return to Afghanistan.
A Luzerne Township man is heading back to Afghanistan for another year of work on a provincial reconstruction team.
Mark Smith of LaBelle served as a civilian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan for 26 months, ending in March, even though most assignments to the war-torn nation last between six and 12 months.
“I initially went over for a six-month tour, but stayed for three and a half more tours,” Smith said. “I like what I do.”
Over the past several years, Smith has worked on building projects including roads, dams, schools and medical buildings in Afghanistan. Although Smith is a civilian with the Corps of Engineers, he was assigned to a provincial reconstruction team from Poland and will be working with the Polish team again.
During the past six months, Smith has been working on his regular job operating the Maxwell Lock and Dam, but he also took some time to travel. He and his daughter Jessica, a student at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, went on a six-country European tour that included Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Germany and Poland.
“It all centered around Poland because I know people there now and they hosted us,” Smith said.
Smith said his wife, Bernadette, doesn’t like to travel, and has been worried about his return to Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan worries him as well.
“There’s no doubt I’ve had some second thoughts since I made my decision, with things heating up the way they are, but I’ll do what I have to do,” Smith said. “You’re so busy over there, you don’t have time to think. You work 12 to 16 hours a day.”
Smith was taking some time Thursday morning to have coffee with friends in Uniontown.
“You’re a hero, buddy,” said Dave Androsik of Smock.
“Not even,” Smith responded. “The young troops are. They’re the ones that take care of me.”
Smith noted that in his own way Androsik has also helped to take care of him over the past two years.
“Dave is one of my big supporters while I’m over there, sending things for the kids and emails,” Smith said.
“My stomach’s in knots, there’s no doubt about it. I’m pretty nervous. All that action in Kabul, that’s right where I’ll be going to check in. That’s been a green area,” Smith said, referring to the recent attack by the Taliban on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Green zones are considered safe areas.
Smith said he has been to the area where a U.S. helicopter was shot down last month.
“Everything seems to have heated up in just the last three or four months,” Smith said.