by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
The call came shortly before 11 p.m., and James Ruth was still at the office.
It’s actually not an office in the conventional sense. It’s more of a . . . warehouse. Something lashed together with whatever discarded parts might be handy.
“A few days ago, they put in some walls,” he said. “And a light. Nothing extravagant, you understand.”
County Court Judge James Ruth’s office is a far cry from what he had become accustomed to at the Duval County Courthouse. His home away from home is one long stretch of sandy flats and sandy dunes flowing into each other around the U.S. Army’s Camp Arifjan, near the Iraqi border in Kuwait.
An aerial photograph would pick up many groups of soldiers, lots of equipment, warehouse-style buildings and lots of tents. All perched upon and choked by miles and miles of sand.
“I miss my family,” he said softly. “I miss my friends. I miss being home in Jacksonville, the courthouse and my co-workers.
“But there are so many other things that I took for granted. Such as grass. Green grass. Thick, deep, green grass.”
As a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps, Ruth works closely with his commander, Col. Timothy Sullivan, and the command staff.
“The commander is, fundamentally, the governor of this region where we’re located,” said Ruth. “He’s the caretaker for the troops: protecting, transporting, feeding and billeting.”
Ruth’s job is to help the command with issues ranging from rules of engagement (when to shoot and when not to), to criminal justice and dealing with those who run afoul of the law, to issues involving interaction with other sovereignties, other countries.
“In laymen’s terms, it’s like being the state attorney and the general counsel rolled into one,” said Ruth. “We also handle hundreds of millions of dollars of contracts, service contracts, purchasing agreements, labor issues, union issues.”
The labor and union issues primarily involve civilian contractors Halliburton and its subsidiary, Kellogg Brown & Root, “who have a significant footprint in this region of the world.”
Shortly after Thanksgiving, Ruth and his unit underwent training at Homestead AFB. They then moved to Fort Stewart, Ga.
They became reacquainted with basic military skills, tactics and rules of engagement. They got updated information on nuclear-biological-chemical warfare. They learned about “improvised explosive devices” and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
They got the quick course in methods of attack by Iraqi insurgents and learned which customs are unique to the people in the Kuwait-Iraq region.
And did he find all that training has come in handy?
“Yes,” he said with emphasis. “A resounding yes. It has come in handy for all of the above.”
People back home may be alarmed at what seem to be increased reports of kidnappings and murder in the region. But the peril has hardly changed at all.
“That is something that ebbs and flows,” said Ruth. “It’s ever present. You’re just hearing about more and more of it right now.
“We have a term called ‘situation awareness.’ It comes from your training, your experience and the intelligence you’ve been provided, based on current events around you.
“You make sure at all times you’re aware of the changing political as well as actual environment in which you’re operating. Those issues were present before I got here. They continue.”
Still, his morale, and the morale of those around him, has stayed strong, ever since he arrived Jan. 14.
“I’m doing great,” he said. “Given the circumstances.
“Each day, we’re faced with new obstacles and challenges. What’s typical about it is nothing’s typical.”
The mission is never far from anyone’s mind, said Ruth:
“I just hope that what I am doing, and what my unit is doing, will bring stability to this region, reduce the presence of terrorism and make the United States and the world a safer place.
“You think of all the great people, the great soldiers, the great leaders who came before you. And you hope you can measure up to their standards.”
About eight soldiers live in each tent, sleeping on expandable cots. Some tents are devoted to exercise equipment. Areas are set aside for television, checkers and chess. There’s an Internet Cafe and a phone system, where soldiers pay to go online or make calls back to the States.
There’s even a Karioke Night.
“What people look for most, actually, is speaking by telephone or e-mail to their loved ones,” said Ruth. “Then it’s getting the mail. Those are the basic things.”
The support he and his family have gotten from friends, co-workers, his fellow judges and people in the community has been “overwhelming,” he said.
“I may be here, but I have a tremendous support group,” said Ruth. “I receive goody boxes, things for me to distribute to unit members.
“Our unit has been adopted by Florida Coastal Law School, largely through Dean (Eric) Smith’s efforts. They’re sending items. Some people over here didn’t have someone to write to them. The law school agreed to write them letters.”
Even 6-year-old Shaina Ruth has gotten a boost from time to time.
“Shaina had a bad day not long ago, and she started crying in school,” said Ruth. “All the rest of the kids started crying. When the teacher asked why, they said, ‘Well, Shaina’s crying.’ ”
Her teacher even brought her to the telephone one day to talk to her father.
“I told her a camel had just walked by,” he laughed. “And that Aladdin had just flown by on a magic carpet.
“She ran back to class and tell everybody. That was more exciting than talking to me.”