By Lexi MooreMajor Charles Erickson of the U.S. Army Reserve has given up a healthy portion of his adult life working for the Army.Erickson, son of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson, Hills, joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Minnesota while studying to earn an engineering computer science degree. Following graduation he joined the National Guard and Army Reserve.In 2003 he spent eight months in Afghanistan, where he earned a Bronze Star for his service. When he finished in Afghanistan, he returned home to Waconia and to his wife, Naomi. He started working for Hutchinson Technology. Last winter he was informed he was needed again with the Army reserve.In January he left for Iraq. His mission as a major is to work with international coalition partners to help form a government in Iraq. The central part of their mission is working with Iraqi elected officials to set up a new democracy.They are now working to set up provincial elections in various areas of the country.In a recent letter home he wrote, "Earlier this week I spent three days at Taqqadum in Anbar Province out west. We were moving some election materials and escorting the Iraqi election officials there. There was a lot of work outside during the day when it was very hot, but it was a fun trip overall."During the trip Erickson spent time with an Iraqi man named Abbas, who speaks English."He has given me a lot of insight into the language and the culture," Erickson said.He is stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad, but works inside one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces. Al Faw Palace is located in Baghdad and offers air-conditioned office space for the officers.Often he has to attend meetings at the U.S. Embassy in the International "Green" Zone. Unlike attending a meeting in America, he must be escorted by a convoy of armored vehicles when traveling through Baghdad. If a convoy is not available or if he is one of few needing to be escorted, a helicopter is used for transport.Erickson will be back in Minnesota for two weeks in August. He will spend part of the time in Hills with his parents and the rest of the time with his wife in Waconia.