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April 4, 2003, 3:44 pm

It's gotten much hotter and more humid here on the West bank of the Euphrates where the 54th Engineer Batallion has ended - at least for now - its long trek through the desert. Having completed it's bridging mission it's encamped several kilometers from the river bank - far from the palm trees and greenery that flank the key bridge taken by the 3rd Infantry two days ago. And its new assembly area combines the worst of the desert, heat and dust, with biting riverine insect life including malarial mosquitoes. But the men of Bravo company are busy with a variety of tasks.

And that busyness has boosted morale even though it's frustrating to see other units - even lowly FLE (forward logistics) supply units -- cross the bridge on their way to Bagdhad. And the news that Bagdhad airport is falling ("maybe it means we'll finally get mail" is a frequently heard half-joke) has also buoyed their spirits, though not more than the rumor that later today they may be able to shed some of their broiling hot NBC protective gear.

2d platoon is now guarding Iraqi prisoners of war or "EPWs" (enemy prisoners of war) - and more are caught or turn themselves in every day.

The EPWs are now being held here on the left bank of the river in the garden of what was clearly a private house -- until taken over by the Iraqi army in preparation for the U.S. led invasion.

"The family probably fled at the beginning of the war" says Sgt. Douglas Bulski, 21 of Portland Oregon, who is pulling guard duty at the five bedroom villa, furnished Western style with chairs and tables. Some of the bedrooms have military style metal lockers that still contain military uniforms. (The toys and pictures in one room indicated that it belonged to a little girl. )

In between guard duty shifts the G.I.s rest in the deliciously cool interior of the villa sitting in real chairs for the first time in weeks. There are showers in the house and running water but the troops aren't allowed to use them.

The EPWs - formerly held in a shadeless pen down the road, now lounge around under palm trees. They are segregated into different groups: apparent civilians, ordinary soldiers, and officers and separated by coils of barbed wire. Troops of the 54th Engineers watch them from the roof and and at the ends of the garden, automatic weapons at the ready.

The prisoners are given water and MREs. Medics -- 3 of the company's four females -- attend to the wounded. An Iraqi colonel who spoke some English told the Post that the detainees were desperate for cigarettes. But the G.I.s have run out of smokes themselves.

According to Sp Joseph Winans III, 23 of Atlanta GA, "When they first came some of them [the EPWs] were belligerent. But pretty quickly they realized that we were in charge and hat al lon gas they went along with us things would be easier for them. Now they sit there and if you ask them to do something to improve their conditions like police up the trash after meals they jump to it."

Adds Sgt. Frank Sgrignuoli, "They were demoralized watching all the military equipment go by -- just staring at it. They just saw all those tanks rolling by. I guess if that isn't demoralizing, I don't know what is."

Meanwhile most of the A&O (assault and obstacle) platoon with its ACEs, (armored ) and C-tractors led by platoon sergeant Craig Falealii was digging graves for the Iraqi dead, moving destroyed vehicles off the road, and smoothing the embankment for the new float bridge put in by the 299th engineers. "It's pretty much a "hey you" mission that just comes on down for the ACEs says platoon sergeant Craig Falealii, 32, from American Samoa, "but the men like it because it's a challenge." (The rest of the platoon manned traffic control points on both sides of the bridge.)

On the East bank, 1st platoon, led by Lt Luke Bohanon, of Jersey City has been clearing the last Iraqi bunkers and fighting positions, and destroying munitions left in them.

His men found a bus that had been used to transport Republican Guard soldiers here to fight as fedayeen. It was filled with rifles, RPG (rocket propelled grenade) launchers and ammunition, gas masks, mortar shells and other munitions.

The platoon took all the weaponry and explosives, put them in a foxhole and destroyed them in a controlled explosion using charges of C-4 plastic explosive.

Back in the bus there were still piles of communication equipment, including old-fashioned morse code clickers.

There were also crates of soft drinks including Pepsi bottles (that somehow evaded the sanctions on Iraq,\) and a large box full of goodies cigarettes (mostly local brands like Sumer which advertises "Verginia tobacco" on the box, shaving cream, soap, toothpaste AA batteries, candy and Indian-made incense sticks.

Captain Braden Lemaster, the CO (Commanding Officer) of Bravo Company ordered that the cigarettes be taken out and given to the EPWs. It wasn't an order that thrilled the GI's who coveted the cancer sticks themselves, but as the Captain said, "you've got to remember what the end point of this war is, about winning hearts and minds.

Finally the bus was demolished too.

Lt Bohanon was in a good mood, delighted that his men had been given some work worthy of their skills. "We got to clear some bunkers and demo some enemy equipment. Blowing stuff up is always fun, though you have to think through it, especially when destroying ammo. (With whole crates of AK-47 ammo you gotta do it so cuts the rounds and they don't go off like firecrackers.)

"And we're at least seeing some dead bodies - it makes it feel more real. Previously all we were doing was driving and doing maintenance, and getting no parts or supply. It was very frustrating. We're still getting no parts or supplies - we're running short of water though there's supposed to be water purification starting soon. But at least there's the change of scenery."

One of his platoon members, private Matthew Rosenfield, 20 of San Francisco, echoed his boss. "It's hot as hell and I'm sweating my balls off but we found a couple of AK's and at least it wasn't boring. I mean, I wish I was home. But I'd rather be working than just driving or doing nothing. Lt. Bohanon was cheered also by the news of the army's progress North. "We know that the airport's been taken - and that's our way home."