Wis. Lawmaker To Head To Iraq
By George Mallet
NEW BERLIN - A state representative from New Berlin is bound for Iraq. Republican Mark Gundrum was called up for active duty with his Army Reserve Unit.
The 37-year-old Gundrum is a member of the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion. The unit is based in Ashwaubenon.
Gundrum looks at his upcoming January deployment as necessary.
“Service in the military is just another extension of public service. I feel an obligation to serve the great community I’ve grown up in,” said Gundrum. “Now I’ll be serving them in Iraq.”
Gundrum has six cherubic children ranging in age from 7 months to 10 years. His wife, Mary, will have her hands full. Still, she views the deployment philosophically.
“In a sense I’m grateful for what he’s doing,” she said as she bounced her youngest in her lap. “But being an army wife? You have to be tough,” she added with a laugh.
A popular Republican power-broker in Madison, Gundrum says the upcoming deployment has increased his appreciation of his children. When asked if he has looked at them any differently in recent weeks, he fought back tears.
“I’m afraid to say too much or I start welling up with tears,” he said as his eyes became watery. “I’ll just have moments when I’ll pause and I’ll see one of my children and I’ll really have to hold back and control myself so it doesn’t make them sad.”
Gundrum expects to go to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina for training after Thanksgiving. Then he hopes to return home for Christmas, but in late January, it will be off to Iraq.
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