Iraq War veteran proud of U.S. efforts overseas
Army corporal from E.B. was part of recovery effort at ground zero
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff U.S. Army Cpl. Gilroy Parks speaks to residents of the Chelsea at East Brunswick during his appearance there, which commemorated the five-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

EAST BRUNSWICK - When a small child approached and asked for his shoes, Gilroy Parks knew he was far, far from home.

Parks has indeed come a long way from his New Jersey upbringing, having served a year in Iraq with the U.S. Army, and spent several weeks helping out in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Suffice it to say, he knows a thing or two about helping others.

Parks, an Army corporal, spoke recently to residents of the Chelsea at East Brunswick, Cranbury Road, detailing his experience in war-torn Iraq and at ground zero. A military veteran of the past 19 years, Parks was part of the National Guard's cleanup and security task force in New York City after 9/11. His appearance at the Chelsea commemorated the five-year anniversary of the attacks.

Parks was activated to serve as a member of the National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division, and fulfilled a number of roles, including helping to make sure that trucks, medical supplies and food got where they needed to go during the rescue and recovery effort.

His service lasted three and a half months, beginning on Sept. 12, 2001, during which time he was stationed out of and living at Liberty State Park.

One thing that stands out in Parks' memory is the smell of burned flesh. This, along with the smell of airplane fuel and burnt paper, made the experience all the more difficult for anyone involved. This is not to mention the sights and feelings associated with the tasks at hand.

"It was just astronomical," he said.

Parks, who lives in East Brunswick with his wife and daughter, came back home from New York City for a short period, only to be reactivated and have to serve another three weeks in Staten Island, where the debris and wreckage of the World Trade Center had been sent. Officials were sifting through debris searching for anything that could be salvaged for the investigation into the attacks.

While there, Parks helped provide security, served food, set up supply areas and helped people get whatever they needed.

Parks said he has not suffered any health ailments from his time at ground zero, though he does have a chest X-ray taken every six months as a precaution. For a while, he did have what is termed "the WTC cough," and he still gets bouts of this, he noted.

Parks, originally from Irvington, spent four years in active Army duty and the rest of his military time with the National Guard.

As an Army corporal in Iraq, Parks was credited with saving the lives of two fellow soldiers. After seeing an unarmored dump truck fall into a burn pit, where garbage is burned, he jumped into the pit and helped rescue the driver and passenger. He recalls this as one of his most frightening moments in Iraq.

He also took part in humanitarian missions, and that's where he met a little boy who wanted his shoes. The boy even tried to take his shoes from him.

"All he could say in English was 'Mister, shoes?'"

While in Iraq, one of Parks' jobs was issuing equipment to the Iraqi Army and police forces. He also was in charge of watching the base, he said.

For the first three months of his one-year tour with the 42nd Discom in Iraq, Parks was in charge of making sure food trucks were safe and secure before they could make deliveries.

When asked what stands out in his mind about the war in Iraq, he said it is "the women and the freedom they have now," with the removal of Saddam Hussein's government.

Parks, who is up for a soldier medal award for his service, said it is possible he'll be called up for another tour.

He is honored to have served overseas already.

"I felt it was part of my duty as a soldier and an American citizen," he said. "I stand 100 percent behind what we are doing."

He said he wants to thank ARMS, American Recreation Military Services, a nonprofit group that helps soldiers in combat. The group helped make sure his family was OK while he was in Iraq.