Ever since I was kid I would watch G.I. Joe, war movies, and play with toy soldiers. It has paved the way for me to follow the footsteps of these brave men who fought for what they believed in. When 9/11 happened, it had solidified my decision to enlist in the military and contribute my part to this country.
I did two tours in Iraq. Stationed with the 325th Airborne, I received three purple hearts and was personally given a medal of merit by Donald Rumsfeld. The 325th Airborne Division conducts forcible entry parachute assault and secures key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests.
My roles in my deployments were rifleman, designated marksman, combat life saver, breach man, etc. I had guys to take care of and made sure they got home safe. It’s a collaboration, a team effort where our weakness were complemented by others’ strengths, and that made us all more efficient
When rounds begin to fly, it’s all about the men to your left and right. Everything goes out the window; it’s your life and the men beside you. These are the guys who you can trust and will bring you back home. They are more than co-workers, they are my brothers. Being in an infantry unit, we lived out in the city among the locals for the entire deployment. Not being able to take a shower for a month, sleep deprivation, “fireworks”, eating MRE’s, and utilizing the “outhouse” takes it’s toll. The simple necessities in life are never taken granted for.
I don’t know of any soldier who returns from war the same. So yes, the experience I have been through has changed my life. I’m grateful that I’m alive, but now I’m struggling to return to “normal.” For example, hyper vigilance kept me alive in Iraq, but back here it’s called hypersensitivity and I’m viewed as being paranoid. How can I turn off my instincts, instincts that kept me alive. It takes time to adjust to a lawful society again.