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Iraq War

Male U.S. Marine in dress uniform with large medals

Corporal John K. Goeken, U.S. Marine Corps – Two Wars, Three Deployments, and a Commitment to the Corps

Those who want to become U.S. Marines must have, or want to develop, the self-confidence, courage, and swagger necessary to confront enemies without ever thinking of backing down. They know they will win the fight, no matter what the odds—and their enemies know it, too. Corporal John K. Goeken, U.S. Marine Corps, has those qualities in spades. In fact, they compelled him to join the Marine Corps and deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan a total of three times while wearing the uniform. Once back in civilian life, they drove him to return to Afghanistan as a contractor providing security for U.S. government facilities and personnel. Now he is channeling those qualities to become an engineer.

Army soldier in armored vehicle.

Staff Sergeant Alfredo “Freddy” Rocha, U.S. Army (Retired) – 2 Iraqi Freedom Combat Deployments in a 20-Year Career

Military life is full of transitions. It begins with the transition from civilian to servicemember. Every two or three years thereafter, servicemembers and their families are uprooted from their homes, their jobs, and their schools to take new assignments, often far away in other countries. Sometimes military members must leave their peacetime assignments to deploy […]

Female U.S. Navy sailor in uniform

Petty Officer Third Class Kimberly Yantis, U.S. Navy: Deploying on USS Boxer – “You Call, We Haul”

Every servicemember knows the GI Bill is a great way to help pay for an education. The benefits, however, are hard earned, sometimes involving long periods away from home and even deployments into harm’s way. Such was the case with Petty Officer Third Class Kimberly Yantis, U.S. Navy, who enlisted with a goal of using the GI Bill to help pay for her bachelor’s degree. She earned her benefits by participating in two deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to the Western Pacific, all the time working in extremely dangerous conditions on her ship’s flight deck. Now she channels her experience into her lifelong passion of helping veterans and their families in Central Illinois.

Man with a goatee wearing a baseball cap and sun glasses.

Specialist Jeremy Carroll, U.S. Army – From Training Troops at Fort Irwin to Collecting Intelligence in the Iraq War

America’s fighting forces are the best in the world. They earned that distinction by training day in and day out, preparing them for victory on the battlefield. Specialist Jeremy Carroll, U.S. Army, knows the importance of training better than most because he trained thousands of soldiers destined for combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. When his own turn came to deploy in 2003, he saw firsthand the benefits of realistic training and incorporated his experience into the lessons he passed on to others. As a result, his service had a positive impact on countless U.S. Army units and soldiers deployed around the world.

Master Sergeant Shawn Miller - Featured Image

Master Sergeant Shawn Miller, U.S. Air Force (Retired) – Serving in the Iraq War and Across the Globe

When we make choices in life, we have no way of knowing how they will play out. A door that opens to paths in one direction may foreclose others and lead us to places we could not possibly have foreseen. When Master Sergeant Shawn Miller joined the Air Force, he had never even flown in an airplane before. Twenty-three years later, he’d served in far-off places around the world doing everything from refueling aircraft in the Honduran jungle to collecting intelligence in war-torn Iraq. Few can match the breadth and variety of his experience, which included investigating murder cases and augmenting presidential security teams. All this stemmed from his single decision to join the Air Force in 1991.

Female U.S. Army soldier in uniform

Specialist Stacy Breithaupt, U.S. Army – Treating Soldiers and Detainees – A Combat Medic’s Story

Military members sign up to serve in whatever capacity their talents allow. Specialist Stacy Breithaupt knew early on she had an aptitude for healthcare, so it was only natural she became a combat medic. Soon she found herself treating soldiers and their families both in the United States and abroad. Then, in 2005, she deployed to Iraq working with detainees at the mammoth insurgent detention center at Camp Bucca. Less than one year later, it would be Stacy on the receiving end of medical care.

Female U.S. Army captain in combat gear

Captain Olena Fergurson, U.S. Army (Retired) – Service, Sacrifice, and Resilience

When men and women join today’s military, they have no way of knowing what sacrifices their service may entail or what fate may have in store for them. Despite this uncertainty, they willingly commit to serving our country, no matter the personal cost. For this reason, they deserve our respect and have earned the right to be called heroes, whether they train troops in Georgia or end up in harm’s way somewhere across the globe. Captain Olena Fergurson, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired), is one such hero. After leading troops stateside for years, she volunteered for service in Iraq. Five months later, the C-130 transport plane she was flying in crashed in the Iraqi desert. This is her story.

Tom in Iraq in 2005 with Maryland Flag

Commander Tom Jones, JAGC, U.S. Navy (Retired) – Serving at the Edge of Law and War

When people think of Navy lawyers, the image of courtrooms and court-martials comes to mind, conjured up from movies like The Caine Mutiny and A Few Good Men. Although those images are accurate as far as they go, they paint but a small part of the picture. No career illustrates that better than that of Commander Tom Jones, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired). Tom left the courtroom behind early in his career to serve with the Navy SEALs in Iraq, charting the course for all future Navy attorneys embedded with special operations units. Where others might see roadblocks, Tom saw opportunities. Throughout his distinguished twenty-year Navy career, he never avoided challenges – he embraced them. This is his story.

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Specialist Ashley (Pullen) Hawkins, U.S. Army (Retired) – “V” for Valor in Iraq

Everyone faces adversity in life. How an individual deals with that adversity determines the course their life will follow. Specialist Ashley Hawkins, U.S. Army (Retired), has dealt with more than her share of adversity, yet she’s never let it define her. Instead, she confronts it head on and overcomes it, always looking toward a better future. This unwavering determination resulted in her being the first female soldier in U.S. history to be awarded the Bronze Star with a “V” for valor in combat. This is her story.

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