Army Reserve Sgt. Maria Pitrone and two other women soldiers were honored prior to a WNBA home game this week in Charlotte, N.C., but it wasn't for capturing an Iraqi leader or foiling a terrorist plot.

Instead, the Attleboro resi dent was honored for her humanitarian work in helping to rebuild 25 schools in Iraq during her 13-month tour in that country in 2003-2004.

Pitrone, a 2001 graduate of Attleboro High School, is part of a civil affairs unit whose job is to help civilian leaders re-establish authority and rebuild the infrastructure of the war-torn country.

`` I love my job,'' Pitrone said in a telephone interview from Fort Dix, N.J.

She is stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., but is currently teaching a course at the Army's Civil Affairs school at Fort Dix. `` It's very rewarding getting up every morning knowing that you're doing something for people,'' she said.

Pitrone and the other servicewomen were recognized prior to Tuesday's game between the Charlotte Sting and Minnesota Lynx professional women's basketball teams.

Pitrone signed up for Army service during her junior year at AHS and served with the 443d Civil Affairs Battalion.

Shortly after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, she traveled throughout that country with two other Army specialists helping restore damaged schools and advising U.S. commanders about local cultural sites and customs.

The 23-year-old soldier, the only woman in her unit, said she traveled much of the time with an infantry group that sometimes came under fire.

Her core mission was helping to get damaged schools back up and running, serving as a liaison between contractors and local and international funding sources. She also helped obtain school supplies for Iraqi children.

Pitrone said the job was challenging, but that the dividends were worth it.

Damaged schools, some of them little more than mud huts, were repaired or replaced by up-to-date buildings. And children whose world had been ripped by fear and war were finally going back to school.

`` The Iraqis were excited to see money coming to their communities and positive things happening for their children,'' she said.

Pitrone, a dance major at Rhode Island College before being called to active duty, said she enjoys working with children and hopes to complete her studies in dance. `` That's my true passion,'' she said.

Pitrone is the daughter of Robert and Suzanne Pitrone. She has a brother, Daniel, and a sister, April, both college students.