Vicksburg National Military Park Ranger Rick Martin, left, describes his tour of duty in Iraq to former park superintendent Bill Nichols.(Brian Loden The Vicksburg Post)

[11/11/04]Expressing appreciation to veterans is common, but Rick Martin turned the tables and presented honors to the Vicksburg National Military Park and some of his co-workers there Wednesday.

Martin, a ranger at the local park, is also a major in the 31st Rear Operations Center of the Mississippi National Guard and served a year in Kuwait and Iraq.

“This is a thank you for the staff,” Martin said of the hot dog lunch he organized at the park maintenance center. “I got a lot of support from them when I was in Iraq.”

Martin singled out former Superintendent Bill Nichols, Park Historian Terry Winschel, volunteer Tom Maute and Floyd Noble, a retired park employee for special honors. He presented each with a shadowbox containing a souvenir of his service in Iraq.

Martin also called co-worker Robbie Smith forward, saying, “Before I left Robbie gave me this Bible,” he said. “She said she wanted it back. I want to give it back now.”

Martin said the staff of the Vicksburg National Military Park kept him in good spirits with letters and “care packages” including one that contained a crucial piece of equipment.

“Who would have thought we would need a flyswatter in the desert, but a week after I got it, flies hit us and I was the only person there with a fly swatter,” he said.