Staff Writer

 Sgt. Brad Watts has seen parts of the world most people can’t even imagine and he’d go back again in a heartbeat.

Watts, a 26-year-old Saco resident and Marine reserve, recently returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic that showed him poverty unlike anything he’d seen in Maine or Iraq. Watts served a 7-month tour in Iraq in 2004 as a Marine.

Watts traveled to Castanza, Dominican Republic, in July with Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 Detachment B, based in Chicopee, Mass. The primary mission of the trip was to build three schools in an area so impoverished there is no running water. Watts said he was surprised to find he could get on the Internet there but could not let water get in his eyes.

Watts described the trip as a “feel-good mission” where “we know beyond a reasonable doubt we’re doing the right thing.” One of his jobs was to help install fencing around schools to protect children from being kidnapped and sold into the sex industry.

“They don’t have any money, they don’t have any resources. There’s no way for kids to get an education,” he said. “It was a good experience because my last overseas experience was Iraq. This time nobody shot at us.”

Though he saw poverty in Iraq, Watts said conditions in the Dominican Republic were very different. There is a stronger family structure in Iraq and parents would go without to make sure their children were fed and clothed. In the Dominican Republic, Watts  saw many children running unsupervised in the street. A group of small children entertained themselves by sledding down a hill on a crushed plastic milk jug.

“It was a bit of a culture shock for a lot of us,” Watts said. “You just don’t see people running around naked here. That was mind-boggling. These kids don’t even have clothes.”

Watts and his fellow Marines spent most of each day pouring cement walls and roofing buildings. The work went quickly during the monthlong trip and the Marines were able to take on 90 extra projects, including hooking buildings to running water, building picnic tables and basketball courts and delivering school supplies. Commanders recognized the group for outstanding motivation and dedication, Watts said.

But the trip wasn’t all work. The unit was escorted to work sites by Dominican special forces called Cazadores. The two groups often competed in soccer, basketball and volleyball games – almost always ending with Cazadores’ victories. 

Watts’ most memorable moment came during a short conversation with a Dominican man pumping a septic system. The man wore a string of rosary beads around his neck and Watts asked how much something like that costs.

“He took it off his neck and gave it to me. He said ‘I want you to have this,’” Watts said. “He was so grateful his kids could go to this school and would be safe.”

Now back in Saco, Watts said he is trying to learn French so he can travel to missions in Haiti and Africa. He also is focusing on running his campaign for state representative of District 133 and building his new business, Fidelity Contracting.

Watts said he also is using his position as chaplain of the Old Orchard Beach VFW and involvement with other local organizations to build more interest in sending care packages to soldiers serving overseas. Receiving packages while in Iraq – including shoeboxes full of cards for his 21^st birthday – boosted morale and provided much needed snacks. Soldiers need high-protein snacks that don’t melt and “there’s never enough beef jerky,” he said. 

“I know what it was like, I was there [in Iraq] at a really rough time,” Watts said. “We have to remember, regardless of how we feel about the war, to support these troops. It only takes a couple hours out of your day.”