Before deploying was "cool"

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 21:01:37 -0500

There were many opportunities..
For me it stated with Operation Nimrod Dancer deployed an infantry brigade task force from 7th INF DIV to protect US citizens and possessions, and perform a show of force in Panama for 6 months in 1989.
Than weeks later after coming home deployed again for operation Just Cause.

Just cause was 25 years ago this month, the first of many Christmas days away from home... it seems that for me that started a long tradition of not being with family.. Later there was Iraq, than Iraq again, than Afghanistan.

For those that have been deployed over the holidays ,,, where did it start for you?

Response by SGT Mark Estes made Nov 18 at 2018 12:23 PM

SGT Mark Estes — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 12:23:19 -0500

OEF and OIF started in 2003 for me.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 18 at 2018 10:00 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 22:00:17 -0500

Operation Southern Watch, 2001 started it for me.

What made that deployment memorable was we deployed just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. For the first few days, we weren't sure if we were going to stay in Kuwait or move out. Thankfully, we stayed put and completed our mission of defending the Southern no-fly Zone. It felts sort of unreal to go back just a few months later and be mere miles away from the Iraqi border knowing that in hours, we would be crossing that line.