"I lost 'brothers' in Iraq," Rob Myers of Essex recalls sadly, "and their deaths changed my life."
Myers was a member of the Army National Guard Transportation Unit 1138 out of Jefferson Barracks, when he was deployed in 2007 and assigned to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Grizzly, part of Camp Ashraf.
FOB Grizzly was a joint Marine and Army operation, Myers explains. It was a refugee prison camp for Iranians who wanted to leave Ashraf, but other military actions were carried out there, as well.
The region was inhabited with bomb makers who constructed a variety of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
"Each bomb maker had his own trademark, or method of construction," Myers explains. "When we went out after a blast, we looked for 'fingerprints'--characteristics of the device--that could tell us who had made it."
Myers says some of the materials used included kerosene cans, propane bottles, metal pieces of pipe and spent shell casings. The devices would be hidden in the roadways, with triggers that would be activated by the wheels of an approaching vehicle.
He says that after a blast occurred, he and his men would repair the hole and stamp it with an engineer's castle to show that it was safe. The problem, though, was that many times Saddam Hussein sympathizers would come out at night and dig under the repair and plant another bomb.
"The Marines went out each night, without lights, on Presence Patrols (PP) searching for IED factories," he says. "Even though we were different military branches, we were like brothers, and before the Marines would be dispatched on a mission, we would have a prayer huddle."
Myers says that on the night that changed his life, the Army and Marine 'brothers' gathered at 10:30 for a prayer huddle.
"At 11:10 we got the call there had been a hit," he says.
His recovery men were dispatched to the scene; however, the evacuation vehicle was already there, so they did not know the extent of the injuries, nor who was involved.
"We're recovering the pieces of the vehicle in the dark," he explains, "but we know it's been a catastrophic hit, which means the Humvee was ripped apart."
Myers says they used a special wrecker designed specifically for recovery operations. He adds they had to be sure every piece of the vehicle was retrieved because opposing forces would be waiting to get their hands on any materials they could find.
It was the next day -- in daylight -- before the full scope of the murderous blast could be seen.
The recovery group was again dispatched, but this time they were recovering a different type of remains.
"We stored what we found in the ice trailer because there was no morgue," he tearfully recalls.
Myers says that in the days after the attack, the impact of the loss of his friends' lives hit him.
"It was right around Christmas-time in 2007, and I realized that there were wives and children who no longer had anyone to take care of them," he remembers.
Myers says he decided at that moment to do whatever he could to assist the families of his fallen brothers. When his deployment ended, Myers returned to civilian life as a veterans service officer employed by the Missouri Veterans Commission.
"As a service officer," he explains, "I made sure widows and children got their benefits, and I also assisted veterans in whatever way I could."
In 2011, Myers was again activated. He was deployed to Afghanistan where he provided combat logistic patrols.
"We were again dealing with IEDs," he says, "but by this time, mine rollers were in use."
Myers explains a mine roller is a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with pressure plates, which can thwart the trip wires on explosive devices. They were designed specifically for that area. The mine roller was the lead vehicle in convoys that delivered supplies to outlying FOBs.
Myers' tour ended in 2012 and he again returned to private life, but continued his National Guard career. Since April of this year he has served as the senior enlisted advisor for his unit.
Myers still carries the sorrow of losing his friends in war, and retelling the story took an emotional toll on him; however, from that sorrow has come a deep and genuine concern for not only the families of fallen soldiers, but for all families in need.
"For many years, Sherry and I have been involved in assisting children and families at Christmas," he says. "We have given a little and we have given a lot. Whatever we are able to do to brighten someone else's holiday, we are happy and willing to help."
This year, though, Myers wanted to do something different.
"We decided to see if we could make our effort bigger and better," he explains.
"Sherry suggested a toy drive, so I contacted the Marine Corps League who sponsors the Toys for Tots campaign."
He says that within 15 minutes, their event was planned.
"We held it on Oct. 15 at the business Sherry and I own. We had a corn hole tournament, a fish fry and live music. The fish dinners were free with the donation of a new toy; otherwise, we charged $8," he says.
The event took in about $2,200 in combined cash and toy donations. Collection will continue at the Long Branch in Essex until Dec. 15; then, proceeds will be turned over to the family services office in Bloomfield.
Myers and his wife, Sherry, met when they were both working at Walmart. He was in automotive and she in the photo lab. They have been married since 2006 and have five children: Tristan Montgomery; Kyle Montgomery; Gavin Jones; Robert Myers III; and Stephanie Myers.
"The whole war experience changed my life," Myers says thoughtfully, "but I didn't let it change me for the worse. I came home determined to make a difference for those who needed help, and I hope, that in some way, I have been able to do that."