My Time in Iraq: Part 1

Our troops are heading home and changing tactics- to save instead of kill. It's making me think of my time spent in that country...what I did and what I didn't do

I will tell you exactly what I told my Psychiatrist and if I have time, I may tell you some more:

I wasn't supposed to be going. In August 2004, I finished Combat Medic School. I had received my blood pin (yes, some schools still do that) and I was completely brain washed. All I could think of was how to save a life and the Army Values. I came home from San Antonio...a civilian. Civilian is almost a dirty word in the military. I started my new job as a Health Care Tech in a Gyn Clinic- and no, we did not perform abortions there. My new unit that I had joined was in Asheville, NC. They had deployed before I even came home from Texas- so I wasn't all that concerned about Iraq. Usually, you deploy and then wait a couple of years before your unit is selected again.

It was a regular day at work when my boss answered the phone. She looked puzzled when she handed me the receiver and said, "It's a Master Sergeant Green for you". I stood at attention quickly and spoke self-assuredly, "Yes Master Sergeant". He babbled something about meeting my unit and joining "In Country" and "30 days..blah blah Ft. Bliss blah blah...Orders" When I hung up the phone 30 seconds later, my slick sleeved military mind had absolutely no idea what I had just heard. My boss looked at me with a screaming question in her eyes. I quickly said, "I need to take a walk outside".

Almost 30 days, a Living Will, Power of Attorney, and a Last Will later, I rode to the airport in Raleigh to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I met the other 4 chosen ones inside the airport. Like me, they were barely enlisted Privates. We had one "No Show". The FBI found him a few weeks later and he reluctantly boarded his own plane of destiny.

The Army didn't have time to train us like they had trained my unit. The Military Police that I was attached to had experienced close to 6 months of preparation for their mission. They had even spent time in the Mohave Desert to acclimate to temperature changes. No, we were given 5 1/2 days, one of which was Thanksgiving. Well, after sad cell phone goodbyes, pokes/prods and vaccinations, we boarded a plane with our empty   M-16s. I took Benadryl so I could sleep. It was a long flight with a layover in Germany. Weary eyed, we all stumbled off the plane so it could be examined and refueled. Several hours later we re-boarded and set off for our final destination, Camp Doha, Kuwait.

I awoke in pitch black. Outside the windows all that was visible were flickering orange flames from oil rigs in the desert. The plane landed and we were told to move quickly towards a waiting bus. Several volunteers were chosen for baggage detail and the rest of us anxiously boarded a Kuwaiti Public bus with drawn shades, fringe and bad hip-hop music sung in Arabic. We had no Flak vests, no bullets, no gear, no destination and absolutely no idea what we were doing. As the other soldiers began to fidget and peek out the windows, they were reprimanded by an NCO. We were told to leave the curtains alone so no one would know that solders were aboard. We listened.

An hour or so later, we were inside the U.S. Camp Doha. We swiped our ID cards so that our tax free pay would begin and then sat for an inbriefing. Intently we sat- listening to the Rules of Engagement, Learning simple Arabic commands and taking notes about recent enemy activity. Finally, we were shown our bunks. My 5'2 frame lugged duffle bags, a rifle and ruck sack into the female barracks. Surprisingly, I saw a familiar face. My Battle Buddy from Basic Training, Rachel was on her way out. She had chosen a different MOS after Basic and deployed immediately after it was over. Already, she was leaving for her mid cycle vacation. She smiled and we hugged...but there was something in her eyes that said things had changed. She was wiser now...had seen things. Training was over. I said goodbye to her as though I would see her for the next formation and then layed down in my bunk and slept.

The next day, I awoke without an alarm. I quickly remembered what had transpired over the past 24 hours and felt an unexpected exhilaration for the day's events. My orders did not come that day. No one came. After another night in Doha, our chariot arrived. My new friends and I were each issued our gear and ammo. We were told that everything was about to change. Kuwait was a resort, we were told. Hell was on the other side of the border and when we cross- we lock and load, set it on Hot, eyes vigilant. We passed the checkpoint into Iraq and adrenaline coursed through every vein of my body. My life would be different and nothing would ever be the same.