A changing role for reservists

BY LIAM PLEVEN / August 8, 2005
STAFF WRITER; Staff writers William Murphy, Michael Rothfeld and Emi Endo contributed to this story.

Douglas Luback had served as a reservist in the U.S. Navy Seabees for 18 years - starting as an enlisted man and later becoming a commissioned officer - before he saw a moment of combat.

Last year, that changed in Iraq. Summoned to active duty, Luback traded his job as a supervisor in the New York City Department of Sanitation for a post as liaison to the Marines that involved dodging incoming fire daily.

"I've had rounds knock me down," said Luback, 49, whose civilian job is to keep the city's garbage fleet rolling. "I've seen people get killed right around me."

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