Reflecting back on my twenty years in the military allows for a lot of memorable times, some were great while others were not so great. One memory in particular can be found on Wikipedia, under Battle of Baghdad (2003). Serving as a Scout Sniper Squad Leader with the 101st Airborne Division, combat was something I had previously experienced in Afghanistan, where my unit had participated in missions such as Operation Anaconda, Apache Snow II and several others. Iraq however was going to be a fight unlike any other we had experienced up until this point, and we knew that before stepping foot on Iraqi soil. Baghdad was our target, and intelligence sources had informed us that Iraqi Soldiers were training, in hopes that they could defeat us, the American forces when we arrived in their city of Baghdad, Iraq.
Our unit had returned from Afghanistan only six months earlier, when we were given the mission to take Baghdad. Our superiors had informed us that the bulk of the fighting would consist of door to door, house to house style fighting. This style of fighting is more commonly referred to as MOUT, which is an acronym for Military Operations Urban Terrain. The one thing that was always drilled into me as a young Soldier was MOUT was not the fight you wanted to be fighting on the enemy’s turf, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why that is. Any time you prepare for something major such as combat, it’s very important to have some sort of visualization as to what you think you are going to experience. This will set the conditions for tough, realistic training, which is extremely vital to mission success in combat. Just prior to departing for Iraq our unit trained as if our lives depended on it, because it did! We rehear...
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...he proper way of honoring Troy’s memory and all the other close friends I have lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. They left behind wives and children that they’ll never again get to hug and kiss goodnight, and say to them “I love you.” So I do that for them when I tell my wife and children every chance I get that I love them, followed by a hug and kiss. We only got one shot at this precious thing called life; it’s up to us, how we spend it. And after that, we are nothing more than just a memory, until we hopefully meet again. I pray that my family and friends remember me as that father or husband who was always reminding them of how special they are to me, and how I loved them more than words can say. So tonight when you go home, give that loved one of yours a hug and kiss, and tell them how much you truly love them, because you never know it may be your last time!
Through history, the United States has participated in many significant events, such as the infamous Civil War, World War I and II, and the Cold War. In the same manner, the United States has been in many conflicts with the Middle East. For instance, the Gulf War where, we, the United States, liberated the Saudi Arabian country Kuwait from the dictator Saddam Hussein; however, he is in command of one of the most powerful armies in the globe (Operation). Even though this conflict only lasted for months, America had overcome a milestone. So many military personnel have participated in this conflict and all have different stories as well as perspectives. Whether the veteran was on the front line or working behind the scenes, everyone who contributed in Operation: Desert Storm made it successful. Despite the many deaths in this conflict, the lives that were sacrificed will be remembered forever.
A time to remember those who died, those who served, and those who carry on.” ~Unknown. Servicemen make sacrifices daily. During 9/11, the Manhattan firefighters were responding to a gas leak when they heard the explosion from one of the twin towers. Policemen and firefighters from all around New York and surrounding areas came to help rescue the victims. They searched through rubbish and raced with time to check the buildings before and after the buildings collapsed. There were clouds of smoke, dust, and debris flying through the streets; blinding the bystanders. Hundreds of servicemen died that day, including military personnel in the Pentagon who were also hit by the hijackers. I had a cousin named Johnnie Doctor Jr who was in the Navy. He was killed in the Pentagon. I never got to know him, but from what I heard he was a great person to be
No matter how well intentioned the invasion of Iraq may have been, it was an act of violence and deception that has left many American men dead for no clear reason.
The day after my grandfather left Playku Central Highland the army was overran by the Vietcong and there began the hand to hand combat. My grandfather was really scared for his little brother because he was afraid he would never come back, and...
The book Black Hearts by Jim Frederick is an in-depth narrative about the 1st platoon, Bravo Company 1-502nd Infantry 101st Airborne Division deployed to Iraq in 2005. The leadership failures documented in this book range all the way from the general officer level down to the lowest private. LT general Ricardo Sanchez failed to understand the climate his command group was entering as they were deployed into Iraq. From then on the entire leadership failures continued to compound upon each other with improper time to plan. It is customary to have a six month lead time to have a proper battle hand off when preparing to take over an AO from another unit. To compound this problem, the entire time the 502nd was in pre-deployment training, they were preparing for the rigors of urban combat. In reality, they were given six weeks to recon their new area of responsibility and were going to a countryside crafted by the heavens for guerilla warfare. As Colonel Ebel said in the book, “It is not going to be an easy road. They are not even sure of what they have in the area. It just feels bad. We can expect a real fight.”
I was deployed to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo when Operation Iraqi Freedom kicked off. I remember wondering how this war would affect my life or the direction of my career and unit. In March of 2003 I found out. Because of the war, our replacements, already having been trained for real world action, were sent to Iraq, extending my already long six month tour to ten. The start and end of that war, as a whole, had its effects on not just me and my unit, as I was deployed there twice, but on the whole world. The outcome of a war can be explained one way or the other. The effects of which can echo throughout the ages. But the battles that bring you to the wars conclusion are the building blocks to the character of that war. One such battle that helped define the character of Operation Iraqi Freedom was the first battle for Fallujah also known as Operation Vigilant Resolve.
...uch information as possible before going into a conflict. The ability to get to know your enemy and figure out the scheme of maneuver is impressive.
I was at Fort Benning Georgia in August 1988 to attend jump school. I had done my basic training here four years earlier with Sgt. Smith who would be my black hat true instructor for airborne school. I was standing in formation at five in the morning. It was cold now, but Georgia has hot, humid daytime temperatures that were draining mentally and physically for a student from Northern California. I knew I wanted to be here even though there would be physical and mental stresses, challenges and the possibility of serious Injury. The students would be weeded out at every point. I did not want it to happen to me. During my four years in the Army, I learned that I like to be an independent, resourceful, goal oriented problem solver. In the infantry, I had to obey the orders and not think for myself. Uniformity in everything was demanded.
It is ALWAYS fitting to remember our military personnel that have died in the defense of this nation. I could NEVER forget it. I rarely talk about my own ventures into the world of combat. In fact, most of us older coots go out of our way to avoid it. Many of us didn’t serve in Vietnam because we felt our nation’s survival was at stake. We did it because, unlike now, the military draft was the law of the land and Vietnam was our “war”… our time to step up and serve, even though Congress never formally declared war. Most of us never thought much about the righteousness of it. It was our duty and we did it.
Bullets flying through the air right over me, my knees are shaking, and my feet are numb. I see familiar faces all around me dodging the explosives illuminating the air like lightning. Unfortunately, numerous familiar faces seem to disappear into the trenches. I try to run from the noise, but my mind keeps causing me to re-illustrate the painful memories left behind.
On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank all of you for your compassion and for being present here today. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Mauri-Lynne, and I'm Lionel's daughter. Dad was devoted to every one of you. We all hope that you'll share your memories of him with us, if not today then in the weeks and months to come.
The plan should take the Soldier from enlistment to discharge or retirement. The plan begins with the transformation process during Basic Combat Training (BCT). It is here where the training plan begins to take shape in molding a civilian into a highly skilled and qualified Soldier prepared to contribute as a team member. It starts with the introduction of the Army way of life, to understand, accept, and live the Army seven values and Warrior Ethos. It must build upon character development, focus on strong leadership traits, and instill the core values of the Army. Weapons immersion; Soldiers must be comfortable and proficient with all of their assigned weapons, to include individual, crew-served and less-than-lethal weapon systems. Our Soldiers will be able to employ their weapons under any conditions, anywhere in the world to destroy our nation’s enemies. Lastly, the ultimate goal for BCT is to produce a well-disciplined and physically fit Soldier ready to take on the challenges and stresses of a complex
Laying a wreath at the foot of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will help me connect with the traumatic past of the solider. Possibly experiencing the pain he or she have suffered until, finally, peace was found once again. To better understand the soldiers’ military past is one of my main goals. A better understanding of the soldiers means a greater appreciation and grasp of what the fighters of our country need in the current society. I want to better improve the lives of those suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from the chaotic wars. Remembrance of those who served and died for our country is significant to
Gracie lives in Washington State with her Aunt Shay and cousin Diego. Her father deserted her when she was a young girl, and her mother was killed a year and a half ago. She makes no effort to listen to her “best friend” Emily, and that’s one of the reasons Gracie feels bad when Emily disappears. Another reason is because Gracie has premonitions. They’ve been with her since before her mother died. She never knows if she is seeing the past, the present, or the future. But she did see Emily. Gracie did not know where or when the premonition took place, but she felt the fear in Emily’s body. No news of Emily’s disappearance goes on for days, but as the days go on, Gracie sees a premonition here and there. A waterfall here, a passing light there, but they make no sense. Gracie goes to a computer camp where Emily was supposed to register. She has a feeling that there is some sort of connection with the camp because another girl disappeared who was a member of it. She sees more premonitions, but all they do is confuse her even more than she already is. One premonition shows her that another girl is going to be kidnapped at a park. Gracie convinces her cousin to take her there. Dora, a girl from the camp, is the girl from her vision. She tells her she is psychic and she has to leave the park before she is kidnapped. Dora leaves, and the head of the camp, Jonah Castle, believes that Gracie is Dora. Gracie plays along and she is led to a boat. She knows that somewhere in her visions, there was a boat. She feels close, and she doesn’t pick up any bad reading from Jonah. When they get to the boat, she runs on to find out that she is being kidnapped. Gracie had not seen Dora in her vision. She has seen herself. Jonah soon comes and explains his way of taking underprivileged children and putting them together in a secluded home. It has every essential a child could want, but the children are taken from their normal lives. Inside the house, she finds Emily, along with other children. Gracie soon realizes that there is no hope of escaping. And she’s the only one who cares. Gracie quickly becomes a favorite of Jonah.
Before I begin I would like to thank all of you here on behalf of my mother, my brother and myself, for your efforts large and small to be here today, to help us mark my fathers passing.