| Pfarr, far away |
By: Paul M. Malchow
|
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:03 pm
|
 Email  Print
|
One would think after spending a year serving his country in Iraq, Brian Pfarr would get anything but a chilly reception when he returned home to Le Sueur. But that’s exactly what he got – not from his friends, family or co-workers at First Farmers and Merchants Bank; but from Mother Nature.
“I’ve been here for three weeks of winter,” Pfarr shivered. “I’ve had enough. Temperatures (in Iraq) are about in the 80’s. Last summer it hit 128 degrees.”
Normally the ag loan officer at First Farmers, Lt. Col. Brian Pfarr is also a member of the 34th Infantry Division of the Army National Guard. On Feb. 13, 2009 he left with his unit for Iraq. On Feb. 9, 2010 he came back home.
“I had the easy part,” Pfarr said. “I had my dishes done, my laundry done. I just had one single focus versus the families here. It was up to Kristan (Pfarr’s wife) to take care of the kids and handle everything. They have the tougher end of the deal.”
Modesty aside, Pfarr wasn’t exactly lounging on the beach for the past year. Pfarr served as chief of operations overseeing 20,000 troops in the Basrah Province. He controlled operations in 9 of Iraq’s 18 provinces.
“We took over for the British,” Pfarr explained. “They moved out and we moved in. I worked the night shift – coordinating and synchronizing operations. There was also some crisis management.”
Pfarr joined the Guard as a private in 1987 and completed the ROTC program at Minnesota State University - Mankato. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1991 and has continued to move up the chain of command.
“This was my second deployment,” Pfarr said. “My first was to Europe in 2003 and 2004. I spent a month in Iraq in 2008, but that was more for observation than anything else.”
14-hour work days didn’t leave Pfarr with much time for outside interests. “I was amazed,” he exclaimed. “There was never a dull moment. We were always dealing with situations and time would fly by. I didn’t get out much. If I did it was by helicopter.”
“I made a lot of close friends in a short time,” Pfarr went on. “That’s just the nature of the situation. Units are coming and going all the time, but there are some people who will be on the life-long Christmas card list.”
“The vast majority of people were just like me. They left their lives to come to Iraq. But our experiences as bankers, as policemen ... was more beneficial. Sometimes a situation would take civilian skills and not so much military skills.”
Although Pfarr plans to stay active in the National Guard, he said it’s unlikely he would be returning to Iraq any time soon. “I’m probably safe for a few years,” he chuckled. “In the army, I’m an old guy.”
First Farmers and Merchants Bank has scheduled March 12 with an open house to honor Pfarr and his service. The public is invited to stop at the bank during business hours to chat with Pfarr and enjoy refreshments.
“I’ve trained in other countries and it makes you appreciate what you have,” Pfarr said. “In some places they’re struggling to get water and electricity. But mostly I really appreciate the color. Everything there is gray, brown and tan.”
|
|
|
|
| Login and voice your opinion!
|
|
