June 7, 2003

Loper Football Player in Middle East

Part of Nebraska Army National Guard

Kearney, NE – Just seven months ago, Eric Sorenson was part of one of the most successful football seasons in Nebraska-Kearney history. A defensive lineman from Greeley, Colo., Sorenson and his teammates went 9-2 in 2002, sharing the RMAC title and making the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in school history.

             While his teammates worked hard this past winter and spring in preparation at a title defense this fall, Sorenson was spending his time on another winning team and defending something much

 more important than a league championship.

            In the Nebraska Army National Guard the past three and a half years, Sorenson’s 1057 Truck Company was called to active duty in late January. After spending time at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, the company has been in Iraq and Kuwait since late April. Sorenson, a senior to be who is majoring in business administration, isn’t sure of his return home although it will probably be later this year.

            “There isn't an exact date on when we are coming home. Everyone is hoping for late July but our commander told us to expect November. I don't think it will be that long,” Sorenson said via e-mail. “I am going to keep hoping for July.”

            With the rank of Specialist, Sorenson’s company is involved with transportation.  

            “We haul most anything. Basically, if someone needs something moved, we are the people that do it,” he said. “We mainly deliver troops, tents, lumber, food and water to a few different camps here to help rebuild them.”

            He continued, “We usually drive to a camp and stay the night there in the backs of our trucks and then head back to base camp the next morning.”

            Before heading to the Gulf, the company did their deployment work at Fort Carson. While there was a lot of administrative things to go over, such as power of attorney and wills, the company also refreshed their basic combat skills, trained on various weapons and re-qualified in weapons like the M-16. And about a month before the company left, they loaded all their trucks on to trains that went on to ports to be shipped over to the Gulf.

            “We did a lot of refresher training, things like chemical warfare and reacting to ambushes. The reacting to ambush training was one of the biggest things for us since we are a transportation unit,” Sorenson said.

            Currently at a base in Southern Iraq, Sorenson is in a tent with seven other soldiers. While there is enough space for everyone, there can be a two-hour wait for showers and the food isn’t exactly home cooking. Sorenson is now with an advanced party, setting up tents and building floors for the rest of the company.

            “That will keep us busy for a while,” he said.

            With the sweltering heat of the Middle East, a job like that can be more than challenging. The company has been through several sandstorms and Sorenson has heard the area described as “this place isn’t hell but you can see it from here.”

            Sorenson has also seen the results of war. The base the company currently is at was one of the most heavily bombed areas during the first Gulf War in 1991. Buildings are near collapse and trash lines the streets. 

            Helping the Iraqi people overcome these factors has turned out to be one of the more rewarding things for the company.

            “We (the company) have also done a few humanitarian missions for the families,” Sorenson said.  “I haven't done any yet, but other troops say its pretty rewarding to help out.”

            Sorenson has had some contact with Iraqi people but, due to recent events, soldiers are no longer allowed to buy things from them.

            “The people line the streets in the little villages when our convoys drive by. Mostly they want food and water in the southern villages,” he said.  “As you get farther north, they are trying to sell or trade with you. They want American money for things like Saddam money, bayonetts, prayer beads and turbans. But, within the past few weeks they MP's (military police) have made it illegal for us to buy anything. There have been a few incidents of civilians trying to harm soldiers, so they want us to stay away from them.”

            Sorenson, a two-year letterwinner, hopes he can next help the Lopers return to the playoffs this fall. He began his career as a fullback, a position that isn’t used often in UNK’s three wide out, one back offense. Switching to defense prior to last season, Sorenson (6’0”, 240 lbs.) had three tackles in the fall. If he plays this season, he would be the only upperclassman among the interior defensive linemen.  

            Named an honorary team captain by head coach Darrell Morris, Sorenson is also part of the influx of Colorado natives on the Lopers. Since his arrival, he and his fellow upperclassmen have helped UNK land more and more players from the Denver metro area.

            “He is such a hard worker. Eric is the epitome of a player that has gotten the most out of what the good Lord gave him,” Morris said. “He also is one of our better recruiters. Players like him sell the program.”

            With the 2003 season just a two months away, Morris and the rest of the Lopers hope to see No. 48 out on the playing field and not on the battle field. Sorenson is also anxious to come home. 

            “I can’t wait to get back home and see everyone. I have seen all I need to here,” Sorenson said.

            If you would like to send a message to Eric, please use the Contact the Loper Staff at Lopers.com at the bottom of this page and your message will be forwarded to Eric.