Iraq
Afghanistan
Deployment
Baghdad 2006-2007 15months
Babylon 2008-2009
Samarra was an insurgent strong hold and we had numerous battles there. My unit (1-4 CAV) earned three Valorous unit awards during that one deployment.
I was with 1-26 Infantry on the Baghdad deployment. We ended up getting extended to 15 months during the surge. We were the hardest hit unit since Vietnam. We lost 35 Soldiers in that 15 months. One MOH recipient (Ross McGinnis) and the unit earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
My third trip I was with 2-28 Infantry and we were basically escorts for the PRT rebuilding the Babil ruins. During this deployment we earned the Meritorious Unit Citation
Fallujah, Iraq, NOV 04-FEB 05, opcon'd to B/1/3 USMC; Follow on operations with 2d Recon and 3d Recon (FEB - OCT 05), primarily in the Zaidon area; occasionally out to Faris. Probably the worst part of being deployed was when I got home. Division just dumped us at the door, VA didn't give a screaming damn and all most civilians did was ignore or discount what we accomplished.
Second tour to Iraq (MAY - OCT 08) - my biggest enemy was boredom.
First tour to Afghanistan (DEC 08 - MAY 09) - biggest obstacle was getting the
materials necessary to build out our facilities. Since I didn't work for a DoD entity (my entity was charted by the National Security Council), I didn't have a DoDAAC to which I could charge the materials I needed. Ever resourceful, however, I found a lot of "stuff" on post!
Second tour to Afghanistan (DEC 09 - MAY 10) - biggest challenge was dealing with the bureaucrats trying to run a war. Atypically, however, I actually kept my mouth shut - an admirable exercise in self control worthy of recognition.
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