Princeton businessman deployed to Iraq

Ray Mabry (third from left) distributes safety vests and orange trash bags to members of the Princeton Boy Scout Troop 1063 who will take over for Mabry and his Success Realty business in their collection of trash along part of North Main Street in Princeton. A member of the Army Reserves, Mabry will leave in November for Iraq. Shown with Mabry are Scout Master Norman Harris (from left), Layne Miller, Joshua Wray, Chase Noerton, Senior Patrol Leader Scott Sledgister, Hunter Coljan and Luke Marselle. Troop 1063 already takes care of litter control for the Red Covered Bridge Road. (BCR photo/Donna Barker)

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PRINCETON — Princeton businessman Ray Mabry has been deployed to Iraq for the second time in five years.

Mabry, a member of the Army Reserves since 1992, will leave Saturday with his unit for a month-long mobilization training in Indiana and then leave for Iraq in early November. Mabry is a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves 317th Engineering Company out of Kankakee.

Trained as a combat engineer, Mabry will run heavy equipment in Iraq and do infrastructure work such as rebuilding and repairing roads and water and sewer lines. He could also do supplemental missions like convoys and hauling missions, Mabry said.

With his first deployment in 2004, Mabry was given only eight days notice before leaving for training in Texas. With that deployment, he was in Iraq for 15 months, stationed about 20 miles north of Baghdad.

With this deployment, the Princeton businessman received four months notice and had more time to plan for his absence, which is expected to be for one year.

Mabry’s Success Realty business will be handled by his wife, Vicki, who is the managing broker for the 20-year-old company. The company also has two full-time agents. The company is in good hands, Mabry said.

His wife’s encouragement and support makes it easier for him to serve his country through the Army Reserves, Mabry said.

“Vicki has always been very supportive of my decision to be in the Army Reserves,” Mabry said. “Basically when I leave, she handles my part of the business as well as her own.”

For the past three years, Success Realty has also adopted a stretch of North Main Street, from the railroad tracks to Interstate 80, for litter control and trash pick-up, a program run through the Illinois Department of Transportation. In his absence, the Princeton Boy Scout Troop 1063 will take over that responsibility.

“They accepted my request without hesitation,” Mabry said.

Looking ahead to the next year, Mabry said he’s thankful for the opportunity to show his support for his country. He enjoys giving back and he enjoys knowing that many other troops have gone before him, giving him that example of dedication and commitment, Mabry said.

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