It wasn’t until the wheels of the Blackhawk hit the landing zone when I realized there was no turning back. I just landed in Iraq, and the fear of the unknown was captivating. Events from these days seem to have a lasting impact on me that I will never forget. The following events describe my experience of war and how it shaped who I am today.
I joined the United States Army as a Cavalry Scout in the winter of 2005. I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. My unit prepared for our upcoming deployment to Iraq. I then was assigned to Bradley Fighting Vehicle and a Humvee. A Bradley is like a tank but smaller. Getting ready to fly out I could see the nervousness on everyone’s faces. Families crying, goodbyes, and then it was time to depart. I …show more content…
Static, and beeping came over the radio, Sabre platoon a checkpoint is being overrun we need Sabre platoon support. This would be my first time outside the gates of the base. Adrenaline pumped through my body like a river flowing. With night vision goggles on, and white knuckles gripping the steering wheel I drove. I drove up over the hill, and something caught my eye, 3 Iraqis in sports jumpsuits holding machine guns. I yelled out “contact, front 50 meters”, and my gunner spun the turret around. Nothing happened I was in total shock. It wasn’t until we realized these men were Iraqi police, and we had just almost begun to engage them with our guns. The Iraqi police neutralized the threat. The following evening I was awoken by loud explosions and our building shaking. The base was being attacked by mortar rounds. Outgoing soldiers waiting to return home were being torn apart by the incoming rounds. Screams that no man or woman should ever have to witness filled the air. Platoons began to move soldiers to aid station and calling in medical evacuations. Seeing missing limbs and blood was so much to bear. Chaos erupted across the base. Frantic radio calls filled the Tactical Operations Center. After the night had settled down and the bombs stopped we were debriefed on the situation. The injured soldiers were taken care of by the combat medics. My platoon was all accounted for with no injuries sustained. I will never forget the sounds, the sights, and events of that
I joined the United States Army as a Cavalry Scout in the winter of 2005. I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. My unit prepared for our upcoming deployment to Iraq. I then was assigned to Bradley Fighting Vehicle and a Humvee. A Bradley is like a tank but smaller. Getting ready to fly out I could see the nervousness on everyone’s faces. Families crying, goodbyes, and then it was time to depart. I …show more content…
Static, and beeping came over the radio, Sabre platoon a checkpoint is being overrun we need Sabre platoon support. This would be my first time outside the gates of the base. Adrenaline pumped through my body like a river flowing. With night vision goggles on, and white knuckles gripping the steering wheel I drove. I drove up over the hill, and something caught my eye, 3 Iraqis in sports jumpsuits holding machine guns. I yelled out “contact, front 50 meters”, and my gunner spun the turret around. Nothing happened I was in total shock. It wasn’t until we realized these men were Iraqi police, and we had just almost begun to engage them with our guns. The Iraqi police neutralized the threat. The following evening I was awoken by loud explosions and our building shaking. The base was being attacked by mortar rounds. Outgoing soldiers waiting to return home were being torn apart by the incoming rounds. Screams that no man or woman should ever have to witness filled the air. Platoons began to move soldiers to aid station and calling in medical evacuations. Seeing missing limbs and blood was so much to bear. Chaos erupted across the base. Frantic radio calls filled the Tactical Operations Center. After the night had settled down and the bombs stopped we were debriefed on the situation. The injured soldiers were taken care of by the combat medics. My platoon was all accounted for with no injuries sustained. I will never forget the sounds, the sights, and events of that