Corsicana native Andy McDougald was close to the action when U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein over the weekend. Courtesy photo

12/18/2003HE WAS THERE: Corsicana native was on the scene of Saddam capture

By MICAH CHAPLIN/Daily Sun Staff

While many Americans were waking up Sunday morning to news on the capture of Saddam Hussein, at least one Corsicanan was there, witnessing the event first hand.

Andy McDougald, a 1986 Corsicana High School graduate, is a member of the 45D out of Fort Hood. He is among those responsible for flying Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno around Iraq in a Black Hawk helicopter. Odierno is commander of the 4th infantry, the group responsible for Saddam's capture in Tikrit.

Sunday morning was a unique mission, however, and the soldiers knew it, according to reports given to Andy's wife Keitha.

"Andy said they all knew something was happening, but they didn't really get to know any details until the last minute. All they were told was that it might be a good day to take their cameras," Keitha said.

All of the soldiers eagerly took their digital cameras and snapped photos of the hole and the area in which Hussein had been residing for months. Andy's father, Gene, said Andy had to stay near his aircraft, but that he sent his camera with a friend who went down to the now famous hole leading to Saddam's hideaway.

After the pictures had been snapped, the military took all their cameras and compiled the photos into a mass of images, which were then distributed back to the troops. Many of those images also made it to the public.

Andy told Keitha the area in which Saddam was found was a familiar one for them.

"He said they flew over the area all the time, but it was very well hidden," Keitha said. "Needless to say, they were all very excited."

Andy has been in Iraq for nine months. Though the environment has been tough, Keitha says Andy knows he has it better than some.

"Most of the time he's been living in one of Saddam's palaces. Others are out in tents," Keitha said. "He doesn't have much contact with the Iraqi people, but he says the people he has seen have been very receptive to them."

Keitha says she hears from Andy daily as he has ready access to Internet and phone.

"It's really hot there in the summer, but it's cooled down now," she said. "He says it's a lot like the movie 'Groundhog Day.' He gets up everyday and goes to work. Everyday is the same and there are no weekends to look forward to. But he's not complaining."

Andy's time in Iraq is scheduled to expire in April, but he is hoping to come home within the next month for a two-week leave.

"He was supposed to come home on the 24th, then it got bumped to the 31st, but we don't really know," Gene said.

The latest arrival date, according to Keitha is Jan. 6, 2004, but she says she will not know for sure until the end of the month.

"That date is only tentative," she said. "In order to carry out their mission, they need a certain number of pilots, so they have to spread out their leave periods."

Needless to say, the whole family is anxious for Andy to come home, and Andy is just as anxious to be home.

"He agrees with everything happening over there, but he's ready to be home," Keitha said. "He's lost a lot of weight because he says it was too hot to eat sometimes in the summer."

Without hesitation, Keitha said Mexican food is at the top of Andy's wish list when he gets home.

Being apart for months on end, however, is nothing new for the McDougalds.

"Him being gone is nothing new to us," Keitha said. "When you're in the military, that's part of the deal."

Even sons Corey, 9, and Emory, 6, are accustomed to their father's absence.

"They're tough. When we lived in Germany for two years, we were completely alone," Keitha said. "But here, my parents live in Blooming Grove and his parents live in Corsicana, so we have a strong network of support."

Andy has a strong network of support as well.

"Naturally, we're all very proud of him," Gene said. "And we remain concerned about the safety of all the folks over there."

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Micah Chaplin may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]