Palatine man re-enlists … in Iraq

A Palatine man re-enlisted in the Army Reserve Friday in an unusual place -- Iraq.

As part of the service's centennial, 25-year-old Peter Vaughan was one of 100 Reservists to re-enlist at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad.

The special ceremony was in part of the Army Reserve's 100th anniversary commemoration, which takes place throughout 2008.

Vaughan currently is serving in Iraq and has previously been deployed to Bosnia.

More Coverage Video Vaughan re-enlists at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad

He works as a broadcast technologist and has extensive experience developing video products for the military.

In Palatine, Vaughan owns his own computer consulting business.

He's a graduate of Palatine High School and close to completing his degree in electrical engineering at Northern Illinois University.

"It is momentous to be in Iraq for the 100th anniversary," Vaughan said in a statement. "I get to bring my civilian skills and background into our efforts in Iraq."

Vaughan re-enlisted because serving has been a phenomenal opportunity for him to see the world and become a better person, he said.

Today, about 22,000 Army Reserve soldiers are mobilized, including more than 15,000 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Congress created what was then called the Medical Reserves Corps on April 23, 1908. It was originally intended to provide a pool of trained medical officers in times of war, but its mission and scope has expanded over the century.