LAKEPORT — As Kyle Molencupp spoke of his patriotism and devotion to duty on his cell phone from Baghdad, one could virtually hear “the bombs bursting in air.”
But they weren”t American bombs. They were mortars and rockets and they were aimed at the international compound where Molencupp is quartered by Iraqi insurgents.
“During our conversation, there were three mortars that landed dangerously close,” Molencupp said in an e-mail that followed a cell phone interview. “I (we) live with a constant threat every day here and never get to relax. Our job is to assist the military in detecting IED (improvised explosive devices) and VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices).”
Molencupp is not a member of the U.S. military forces in Baghdad. His 63rd parachute jump with the 82nd Airborne and U.S. Army Rangers ended all that after 12 years when his chute didn”t open correctly a few years ago. He shattered a knee and is partially disabled.
But he said that being a contractor with the U.S. State Department for the last two years in seeking out explosive devices is much like the military. One thing certain, the mortars and rockets that target his compound don”t make any distinction.
“Every day we have something going on in Iraq,” said Molencupp. “One night I counted 15 different mortars that hit the International Zone. I was in my room. They come in very close and you have to react to them.”
Molencupp, who was born in Upper Lake and grew up in Clearlake, was with the National Guard in Lakeport. In his present position, he provides safety for military personnel in Baghdad and other locations. Before his assignment in Baghdad about a year ago, he was in Afghanistan.
Molencupp and his dog, Mirda, a Belgian Malanois, are one of 50 specialist-dog teams that search vehicles on what have been described as the world”s most dangerous roads in Baghdad.
“We search hundreds of vehicles a day that could (carry) car bombs,” he said. “It could be dangerous work, but I can”t look at it that way because if I did I probably wouldn”t be able to do my job.”
Molencupp considers himself fortunate that he has never been injured by an insurgent”s bomb.
“It hasn”t happened to me, but one guy working with us lost a leg when he stepped on a land mine,” he said. “A friend of mine from England was killed by an IED.
“But I enjoy the work I am doing (it because) I believe what I”m doing saves the lives of American and coalition forces. I also believe that what I”m doing here dealing with insurgents and extremist groups who kill Americans is keeping it here and not on our soil.”
Like many U.S. patriots, he still harbors the shock and the rage he felt on Sept. 11, 2001, when radicals crashed two hijacked airliners into the Twin Towers of New York City”s Trade Center.
“I was in Saudi Arabia in 1996 when Kobar Towers were bombed by bin Laden”s associates; I have seen war and its aftermath,” Molencupp added.
Molencupp said that he works 12-hour days and hasn”t had a day off since July. He said he is reminded daily of how much he misses his two sons, Nick and Cameron, when he encounters Iraqi children.
But he is buoyed by the camaraderie that links his bomb-search team of three Americans and three South Africans together, and is motivated by the purpose his work serves.
“If the guys I”m with and myself were not doing what we do here, the fatalities would be high,” said Molencupp. “The insurgents are watching us every day, hoping to catch us when we”re not looking. We have to control the situation to make sure that doesn”t happen.
“I hope what I”m doing now works for eternity so that our children”s children don”t have to see what I have seen,” he added.
Contact John Lindblom at jlwordmith@mchsi.com.
