Marine Corporal Maurice Hyson Jr. returned to the United States last week after serving months in the Middle East and surviving heavy fighting against the Iraqis during the war there this spring.

Hyson, son of Maurice Hyson Sr. of Edgecomb and Linda Verney of Damariscotta, left Iraq around May 19 and returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C. on May 28, according to his father.

"Last night (May 29) was the first time I had talked to him at length for months," said Hyson. "I am really amazed that I was able to talk to him after some of the stories he told me. He was involved in some nasty fighting over there."

Hyson said his son was involved in the "crossfire fight" in Nasiriyeh during that "awful sandstorm" in the middle of April.

"He said he and his unit hunkered down near a berm while rounds of gunfire flew over their heads," said Hyson. "He said he felt the wind from a shell go over his head and heard it hit a light pole behind him."

Hyson said during that battle, his son was hit with shrapnel in the leg, "which he later dug out by himself," as well as getting bullet holes in his shirt.

Cpl. Hyson was involved in another battle when his unit was ambushed during a service area.

"He is a mechanic with the 8th Marine Division and they had stopped to repair a vehicle when they started facing gunfire" said Hyson.

Hyson said he now appreciates more than ever "what my boy went through. He went through a hell of a battle."

He said his son was also able to keep his battalion at 100 percent by scavenging parts of disabled vehicles that they found along their march toward Baghdad.

"It's great to have him home and safe," said Hyson.

Cpl. Hyson is a 1998 graduate of Lincoln Academy in Newcastle.