United States Army Specialist Michael Moore arrived home last night from Iraq to enjoy two weeks leave, before returning. Moore is standing on his in-laws Niagara Falls front porch, where he and his wife will stay. (Doug Ben Click on photo for larger image

Soldier enjoying visit home
By Jay Skurski
Wednesday, June 23, 2026

While U.S. citizens have watched resentment against Americans in Iraq grow from thousands of miles away, Michael Moore has experienced it personally.

A 2002 graduate of Niagara-Wheatfield High School, Moore is now a specialist with the 84th Engineers, a U.S. Army division that is currently serving in Iraq.

During his visit home this week, Moore said he has noticed a change in the way American troops are being treated overseas.

“Militias are attacking our camp two or three times a day now,” he said.

Moore is stationed at Camp Anaconda, a base located to the northwest of Baghdad. Moore, who has been in Iraq since January, never imagined how difficult his job would become. During his stint overseas, he said two of his friends have died and two of his sergeants have been seriously wounded.

Growing concerns about security have changed Moore’s routine, as well as those of other troops at the base.

“When we first got here we could walk around in our uniforms and a hat, now we can’t go off the base without heavy body armor,” he said. “It gets up to 120 degrees during the day and the equipment adds 25 degrees to your body temperature, so it hasn’t been easy.”

For at least the next two weeks, Moore can enjoy waking up without fearing an attack from hostile forces and can go outside in shorts and a T-shirt, instead of heavy military armor.

He also can wake up and see his wife, Tonya, in person, rather than simply looking at her picture.

“Every time I hear of another attack and I don’t hear from Michael for a few days, I get scared,” Moore’s wife said.

The couple married in late 2002, just before Moore was scheduled to be transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. The high school sweethearts decided to tie the knot because they weren’t sure how long it would be before they would see each other again.

“We originally weren’t going to get married so soon, but when I found out I was moving to Hawaii we decided to get married so that she wouldn’t have to be by herself,” Moore said.

Moore joined the army following his 2002 high school graduation, thinking it would be a good way to get a head start on life.

His day-to-day duties for the 84th Engineers include helping to build bases, roads, and living facilities for American troops. Moore said he longs for the day when his service will end and he can return home. He expects the 84th Engineers’ mission in Iraq to end by January or February of 2005.

“It’s for some people, just not for me,” Moore said of his army experience. “I miss my family too much.”

Moore’s family and friends greeted him when he arrived home Monday following a 19-hour journey that took him from Iraq through Kuwait to Germany, across the Atlantic Ocean to Atlanta, Ga. and home to Niagara Falls.

“It’s hard when he’s gone because he’s the only big brother I’ve ever had,” said sister-in-law Jessica, age 17.
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