Alright y’all, this is part 2 of An American Soldier. I sent some interview questions via e-mail to my best friend and he loves me so much he answered them and sent them back. I am simply copying and pasting from my e-mail and adding my smart ass remarks here and there because, that’s how I roll. Everything in black is what he wrote verbatim, everything in blue is me. He has not seen the smart ass remarks so he will be seeing this version with you guys lmao. I’m not allowed to use his real so we’ll just call him my soldier. I love him like a brother and would walk across the country to change a flat tire for him no doubt. Thanks for everything you do Staff Seargent, love you mean it.
Q: What year did you enlist?
A: 2006, right out of high school. …Ahhh what babies we were back then
Q: Why did you choose Army over all other branches?
A: I never planned on joining the military, but an Army recruiter talked to me at the right time and had a good pitch, so I figured I would go for it. … I expected nothing less from my lovable Tweeder.
Q: What was your basic training experience?
A: Awesome! You learn a lot and bond with the people next to you. You bond while suffering. It was scary initially though, but you learn. It’s such a culture shock because the moment you get off the bus you are getting yelled at, doing exercises, getting yelled at while doing exercises. The longer you go though, the easier it gets. …It’s nice to know he endured his basic training better than I endured his basic training. I was a friggin mess I missed him so bad.
Q: At any point have you second guessed your decision to enlist?
A: Yea, of course. I think with anything that you do, there is always the thought of, what if I didn’t. Any time I stand in formation while its raining, or snowing, or really cold I always question why I joined lol. Or when I’m away from my family and friends for such long periods of time, it sucks but I make it work.
Q: How many different places have you been stationed and where?
A: Not counting my basic training, AIT, or deployments, I have only been stationed to two places. Ft. Lewis, Washington and Ft. Lee, Virginia. …Seriously though you need to come back to the Carolinas for good.
Q: What is it like moving so much with a family?
A: We have been lucky and not moved to much, but it is still stressful. Having to move anytime is stressful, especially with children, but we make it work.
Q: Describe your best experience so far.
A: My best experience so far would be getting promoted to Staff Sergeant. This was the first time that my family saw me get promoted and was lucky enough to get one of my best friends there with me, so it was really great. …But not the best best friend because that is me. (Just to clarify that)
Q: When you’re told you’re going to deploy, what is your immediate reaction?
A: Initially, scared and nervous. Not for me, but for my family. I have to hope that they are set up well so that when I’m gone everything goes smoothly. Luckily, I have been fortunate and everything has gone well while I’ve been gone. Once I know my family is set, I am good. Obviously still nervous, but able to deal with it.
Q: Describe your living conditions on deployment.
A: It honestly depends on where you are at. I have lived in everything from a huge tent with 50 people, to a small trailer with one other person, to a vehicle where I slept on the back of it. It is all dependent on where you are and the mission that needs to happen.
Q: Did you experience different personal concerns (family, relationships) things you would never ordinarily think about while deployed?
A: Nothing crazy, but everything is an experience. It is hard to determine what is a big problem or a small problem when you are thousands of thousands of miles away. I’ve had family have different issues and friends have issues and I could be there with them which made it difficult.
Q: What did you find you missed the most, other than family, while deployed?
A: FOOD! It’s the same food all the time out there if you are lucky enough to have a dining facility and if not, you get an MRE. It’s so nice to get back and go have a burger or run to the store and get what you want to eat. … You forgot to mention me.
Q: What did you do to pass time when things were quiet?
A: Watch movies and workout. I was lucky with my last deployment, I was able to train a lot of Jiu-jitsu as well.
Q: Describe your relationships between you and your platoon?
A: Loved them all. Of course, we argue and at times hate each other, but at the end of the day we all love each other. When we are deployed, all we have is each other.
Q: Every soldier has a nickname, what’s yours and why?
A: I don’t think I ever had a nickname honestly. … This is a flat out lie. I’ve called him Tweeder since high school because of his resembalence to Tweeder in the much beloved movie Varsity Blues, if you’ve never seen it I suggest you get it now.
Q: What was the scariest moment for you?
A: First time you get shot at or see an explosion right there. It’s scary as hell.
Q: What was your proudest moment?
A: Same as my best experience, getting promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Q: Did you meet anyone from near your hometown while deployed?
A: I met a few people. When I did, we usually argued, playfully, about high school football or other sports.
Q: Can you describe what its like to be in a fire fight? Thoughts, emotions etc.
A: Everything kind of goes on autopilot. I do not remember a lot of emotion until afterwards. You just have to go through the motions and know that the guys next to you are there for you as much as you are there for them.
Q: What were the Afghan and Iraqi civilians like? What were their attitudes toward y’all?
A: Just like in America, some were cool and some were assholes.
Q: Did you interact with the local children? How do they differ from American children?
A: I loved interacting with the kids. They are very grateful when you give them small candy or water. They love it all. They have way less then America kids as far as toys etc., and not as educated, but are still kids. … I would have loved to see you interact with those kids
Q: Describe your best and worst days of your deployments.
A: Best days are always the day you leave. Getting on that plane to come home is a beautiful thing. Worst day was during my first deployment. We had a vehicle flip over and lost 3 people, one of which I knew, so that day sucked pretty hard. Seeing the bodies loaded onto the plane is still a day that gets me.
Q: Did you do any work with a military dog? Because they are badass
A: Only once, its when they let us put on the suit and let the dog chase and bite us. I didn’t do it, because I’m not completely mental. … Um, you’re completely mental for not doing it, those dogs are friggin amazing.
Q:Have you received any medals, if so what for?
A: I have a few, nothing crazy. A couple ARCOMS (Army Commendation Medal), AAM’s(Army Acheivement Medal), and COA’s(Course of Action). I got them for different reasons, but nothing to crazy. …I had to Google these abbreviations. I’m a civilian.
Q: Are there things about being deployed that you miss? What are they?
A: I miss the extra money and the lack of politics. Back in the States, you must deal with a lot of stuff. When you are deployed, you have your job and that’s it. No extra formations usually. It’s your job and when you are done you do whatever.
Q: Would you go back?
A: If I must, then yes. I don’t want to, but if I must, I know I must go.
Q: What are the characteristics of a good soldier?
A: Disciplined and hard working. If you can get those two things down, everything else will fall into place.
Q: How has the Army changed you?
A: More confidence without a doubt. That and more discipline.
Q: How has going to war changed you?
A: I’m not sure honestly. Maybe a little less connected to others. I also have less compassion for whining, especially with people that consider themselves “adults”. … I don’t consider myself an adult so he has lots of compassion for my whining.
Q: What advice would you give a soldier being deployed for the first time?
A: Know that you will make it through. Some days will suck, some days won’t be so bad, and some days will be down right fun. You will miss your family, birthdays, and everything else, but you will make it work.
Q: Do you agree with the political reasons given for America being in Iraq?
A: I am not one to say whether it’s right or wrong. I signed a contract that said I will follow the orders of those appointed over me and that’s it.
This is the Old Courthouse, a new one has been built on the other end of main street. The original courthouse that stood in this spot was the place of the first secession meeting, and burned to the ground by General Sherman and his men on March 2nd in 1865 on his infamous march to the sea. Sherman marched out of Chesterfield the next day on the third, torching everything in his path. He and his men forded Thompson Creek, and marched toward Cheraw. When Sherman left, he left the people with nothing. They destroyed almost everything. A plaque stands beside this Old Courthouse in memory of the Sherman march. There is also a plaque in recognition that it was the place of the first secession meeting. We still have a reenactment every year. It might not look like it but this town is drenched in history , you just have to be willing to get out there and find it.
My crazy beautiful life. 