City workers welcomed back from Iraq
City of Gallup employees Randy Pinto, left, and Asa Moore are back on the job after both serving in the war in Iraq. Even though both men are city employees, they did not meet each other until they were serving in Iraq. [photo by Jeff Jones / Independent]

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — The city welcomed home two veterans of the Iraq war by giving them a reception along with their old jobs with the city. Asa Moore and Randy Pinto were given a reception in the City Council Chambers yesterday morning.

“I’m glad they made it back safely,” City Manager Gerald Herrera told the group of about 25 city employees who showed up to thank the pair for their service and welcome them back to Gallup.

Pinto is assigned to the IT department, and Moore is working in the Parks Department.

In Iraq, the two worked at Baghdad International Airport where they processed detainees who were flown into the airport. They also had to, on occasion, pick up them up from locations around the city. They said that they constantly heard gunfire and explosions during the over nine months they were stationed there.

”It was scary stuff,” said Pinto, wearing his military fatigues.

Pinto has been a city employee since 1993 and had done two previous tours before his latest. In 2001, he was stationed in Saudi Arabia, followed by a tour in the Basra area in 2005. Along with Moore, who has done a previous tour in the Middle East, Pinto returned about a month ago and was happy to find his old job with the city waiting for him.

Pinto told of his experience in Basra where he was doing “convoy pushes.” This is where they escort supply trucks through the war-torn areas. He says that watching for the IEDs was a constant task, and he was fortunate to spot any before they destroyed any vehicles he was in.

“It’s good to be back,” Pinto told the group. “Gallup’s changed a little.”

Pinto said that the two ran into each other in Iraq, but had not previously known each other. He walked up to Moore to say hello to a fellow Native American and find out where he was from. They were surprised to find they were not only both from Gallup, but they also both worked for the city.

Parks Director Ben Welch said he was happy to have Moore back. He said that as an employee, he’s highly reliable and hard working.

“Asa is a stud of a worker ... He’s an example for the other staff,” Welch said.

He added that there was no question about giving Moore his old job back. While the veteran was in Iraq, they kept a collection of his postcards on display in the office and sent him care packages complete with green chile.

“He was really worried about his job. But we held it for him,” Welch said.

It’s uncertain whether either of the men is back for good. They are still in the reserves.

“We can be called back at any time,” Moore said.

Even if they aren’t called up again, both men said they want to go back. Moore said that he has volunteered for another tour. Pinto is enlisted until 2012 and plans to stay in until his military retirement in 2017.