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John Hollenhorst ReportingA Moab man plans to shut down his business tomorrow; he's been ordered back into the Army and into the Iraq war after being in civilian life for nearly 14 years. It's part of a little-known plan to beef up the supply of troops with people whose military career seemed over long ago.
What's happening to Bob Muir has been called, inaccurately, a "back-door draft" by critics of the Bush administration. Muir doesn't see it that way, but there is what he calls a "Quiet Army" heading off to war without fanfare or public notice.
Bob Muir has been working out more than usual the last couple of weeks, whipping his 46-year old body into shape for combat.
Bob Muir, Moab: "Well, I feel like I'm getting physically fit and ready for what the army's going to give to me."
For more than 13 years he's been a real estate appraiser. Wednesday he'll shut down his Moab office for about 18 months. He's hoping his clients won't abandon him while he's at war.
Bob Muir: "Well, I would have to start over just from the beginning."
In a few days he'll leave behind a wife and two kids. Just after Christmas marching orders came in the mail, ordering him to active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Bob Muir: "I read it, just kind of a sinking feeling, kind of a shock. I had to read it several times to make sure."
Muir set himself up to get yanked out of Moab and back into the army almost 14 years ago. That's when the army was trying to get smaller. Muir was in the Army most of the 1980's; he left before his re-enlistment was up in 1992.
The Army rewarded him for leaving early with a small annual bonus, which continues to this day. In return, Muir agreed to be in the Individual Ready Reserves, available if the Army ever needed him. Now, after years of grinding combat in Iraq, they do need him, along with more than 7,000 Ready Reservists ordered to active duty in the last 17 months.
Bob Muir: "I've taken their money and they've chosen me, and I will go. I'm not trying to back out of it or anything like that."
As a Staff Sergeant he'll take a brutal pay cut. His wife Sherl was his office accountant and bookkeeper. Now she's had to find work cleaning and gardening.
Bob Muir: "And it's going to be hard, but I know she can do it."
Muir is obviously not thrilled, but he knows it's his duty.
Bob Muir: "Right now I'm going in with a good attitude because I want to succeed at whatever I’m going to do. My goal is to come home."
Muir is not part of any Reserve or Guard unit so when he leaves there will be no airport ceremonies, no mobs of flag-waving families. He'll just fly away by himself to join a quiet army returning to duty.
