CARLOCK - Bob Freitag was face to face with Saddam Hussein, but didn't think the deposed Iraqi dictator looked that tough. "He was worn out looking and almost timid," Freitag said of the encounter in Iraq last spring.

Freitag, an associate judge in McLean County, was serving in the U.S. Army Reserves when he encountered Hussein.

The image of Hussein remained vivid in Freitag's mind Tuesday as he relaxed at his Carlock home in preparation for returning to the McLean County bench later this month.

"It's not something I'll soon forget," Freitag said.

Freitag served 10 months in Iraq, and while many of his duties were mundane, the contact with Hussein was among the exceptions.

"My grandchildren will read about him and I can say I was in the same room with him," Freitag said.

The contact came as Hussein was embarking on a hunger strike.

A major in the Reserves, Freitag was a judge advocate and military brass sought his advice.

Freitag's research revealed that hunger strike protocol required Hussein to submit to both medical and mental health inquiries.

While Hussein had no problem with the medical inquiries, he drew the line at the mental health inquiries, apparently fearing this would make him look weak.

Freitag helped devise a plan to have the medical doctor already treating Hussein ask the required psychological questions. It worked. Hussein cooperated and ended his hunger strike about 10 days later.

While Freitag found Hussein low key in private, Freitag said that when Hussein entered the courtroom where he and others are being tried, Hussein's demeanor became more demonstrative.

"What I remember most about him is his eyes. He has very animated eyes," Freitag said.

It was Freitag's job to make sure detainees, such as Hussein, received proper medical care.

Ironically, while in Iraq, Freitag stayed at Abu Ghraib prison, once notorious for prisoner mistreatment.

Freitag, who plans to resign his commission, said he has "grave concern about a lack of foresight on how to end this thing (the war in Iraq)."

He believes there's a civil war in Iraq and that the country could be broken up or divided.

"We need to find a way to let them (the Iraqi people) stand up on their own two feet," he said.

Talking about the war still comes hard.

For a couple of weeks after first getting back to Carlock in late June, Freitag said he didn't like to think about it at all.

"For a few weeks, I felt like I was between two worlds," he said.

Life in Iraq, besides being dangerous, was hot.

"Every single day it was oppressively hot," Freitag said, adding that it seldom got below 100 and that it was once 138 degrees.

Since returning to Carlock, he's spending as much time as possible with his wife, Traci, son, Bobby, 17, and daughter, Andrea, 14, before returning to the bench Aug. 21.

There was a family vacation to Florida. More recently, there was time spent with the family at the McLean County Fair.

Traci Freitag said "a wonderful support group" helped her get by.

"They didn't wait for me to ask for help," she said.

She is thankful her husband is home safely, but said he doesn't talk in any depth about Iraq.

What Freitag missed most while in Iraq was his family.

"I was able to call home almost every day," he said, adding that he also corresponded through letters and e-mail.

He was able to return home last Christmas, but said going back to Iraq was difficult.

"I'm glad to be back (home)," he said.