Remembering a group of heroes in Iraq | Editorial Columns | thebrunswicknews.com – Brunswick News
It seems like a lifetime ago and in some ways it was. It has been 17 years this week since I was in Iraq with the men and women of Georgias 48th Brigade Combat Team. Even today, it is an experience seared in my brain.
How I ended up there was due to my friend, Bill Stewart, of Brunswick. A former chief of staff to Georgias U.S. Sen. Mack Mattingly, Stewart suggested to a one-time staff member of his that he should invite me to Iraq for a visit. That staff member happened to be the now-Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver, commander of the 48th BCT.
Much to my surprise, I got an email from Gen. Rodeheaver shortly thereafter and an invitation to come over and see things for myself. Sharing the invitation with some of my media colleagues, I was advised to turn it down. I was told that public information staff would keep tight reins on me and I would see only what they wanted me to see within the Green Zone, a relatively safe area (if there was such a thing) in that war torn region.
That prompted me to email the general back and say in effect if that was the case, I would pass on the opportunity. I did not intend to hang around the pressroom all day and pretend I had witnessed the war. I received assurance from him that I was free to go wherever I wished and without any handlers. Gen. Rodeheaver was true to his word, although I suspect had I pushed the limit too far, he would have changed the rules quickly. Generals can do that kind of thing, you know.
I did see the war up-close and personal and a bit too up-close for comfort. I wangled an invitation to join a convoy of Humvees as they swept through the notorious Triangle of Death so called because of the terrorist activity in the area between the cities of Mahmudiayah, Yusifiyah and Lucafiyah looking for IEDs. That is military jargon for improvised explosive devices, or simply bombs.
We found one. Right under the Humvee in which I was riding. The IED detonated on my side of the vehicle and just behind me. Sparks, smoke and asphalt were everywhere. Had we been going a few seconds slower, or had the bad guys been a little faster on the draw, we might not be having this conversation.
Viewing the scene upon our return from the mission, it was amazing to see how large a crater the bomb had made in the road. I still have the photograph of the incident to remind me that war is real and people do get killed. We were lucky that day and may I never forget it.
The 48th Brigade Combat Team is a part of the Georgia National Guard, a group of citizen-soldiers from across the state who leave jobs and families to serve their country. In this case, in Iraq. Lt. Col. Tom Carden gave me a succinct description of their duties there. What we do is find out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, he said, and then we get rid of the bad guys. Today, Maj. Gen. Carden is Adjutant General of the Georgia Department of Defense.
At the same time they were fighting the omnipresent terrorists, members of the 48th BCT were employing their back-home skills helping construct bridges, repairing dams, installing power lines, running medical clinics and showing the best of us to a people who had known only the brutality of a despicable dictator.
Today, I wonder what has become of this special group of people. I do know that in addition to Gen. Carden, Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver is retired and living in Eatonton. I still correspond with him on occasion. Colonel and later Maj. Gen. John King is Georgias able insurance commissioner, appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp and currently running for a full term in office.
But there are all the others with whom I spent perilous days and nights that I dont know about. They hailed from across our state: Places like Statesboro and Montezuma, Palmetto and Gray, Dublin and Brunswick. Back home they were mechanics, firefighters, schoolteachers, postal workers, doctors, nurses, correctional officers, police officers and the like. Your friends and neighbors.
But for my short stay in Iraq, they were my band of brothers and sisters. Seventeen years later, they are still my heroes. I hope they are well.
Original post:
Remembering a group of heroes in Iraq | Editorial Columns | thebrunswicknews.com - Brunswick News
- US to announce plan to draw down troops in Iraq - POLITICO - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- U.S. and Iraq Agree to Withdraw Nearly All American Troops by the End of 2026 - The Wall Street Journal - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- US anticipates announcement to cut back troops in Iraq next week - The Hill - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Iraq Militia Battling US Troops Is 'Not Convinced' Biden Ready To Withdraw - Newsweek - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- US expected to announce military drawdown in Iraq while ISIS missions continue - Washington Examiner - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Iraq Acquiring KM-SAM II Systems - Aviation Week - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- US Seeks New Deal With Iraq After Baghdad Says Troops Not Needed - Bloomberg - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Transition Of Operation Inherent Resolve To US-Iraq Bilateral Security Partnership To Be Announced Next Week - Eurasia Review - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- National Strategy for the Protection and Improvement of the Environment in Iraq (2024 - 2030) [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- REACH conference 2024: Transforming healthcare in Iraq - Iraqi News - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- US allegedly agrees to pull out from Iraq by 2027 - baha news - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Talk of U.S. Iraq Withdrawal Is Disconnected From ISIS Threat - RealClearDefense - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Iraq Telecom Wins $3B in Arbitral Awards against former Kurdish Partner - Law.com International - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Reflections on Experiences of the International Labour Organization: Towards Promoting Decent Employment for Public Works Programmes in Iraq - ILO - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Iran-Backed Militias Strengthen Presence in Iraq as Tensions Rise in the Region - Iran News Update - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Syrian Opposition Outlet: Dozens Of Houthi Drone And Missile Specialists Arrive In Syria From Iraq - Middle East Media Research Institute - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Talk of US Iraq withdrawal is disconnected from ISIS threat - Military Times - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Drone intercepted near Sea of Galilee was launched from Iraq, says IDF - The Times of Israel - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Iraq touts deal with U.S. to withdraw most troops by 2026 - The Washington Post - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Once Considered Foes, Iranian-Backed Groups Get a Warm Welcome From Iraq - The New York Times - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Book on history of Iran-Iraq war to be unveiled at University of Tehran - Tehran Times - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Talk of US Iraq withdrawal is disconnected from ISIS threat - Foundation for Defense of Democracies - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- National Strategy for the Protection and Improvement of the Environment in Iraq - United Nations Development Programme - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Iraq to announce timeframe for the withdrawal of coalition forces - Middle East Monitor - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Houthis, Hamas open offices in Baghdad: How Iran won over Iraq with 2,500 US troops in the country - Firstpost - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- KCK calls on Iraq to take a stand against Turkeys attacks and renounce the agreement with Turkey - ANF English - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Iraq launches national strategy to protect the environment - Iraqi News - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Watch What Closer Ties Between Iraq and Iran Mean for the West - Bloomberg - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Iraq Thinks Its Time for US Troops to Go Home - Bloomberg - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- US blames Iran-linked groups for Tuesday attack on Iraq diplomatic compound - The Times of Israel - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- France, Italy, Spain Win Key EU Roles; Iraq PM on US Troops | Bloomberg The Pulse 09/17/24 - Bloomberg - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Not Hezbollah, Biggest Revenge Threat For Lebanon Blasts By This New Group | Israel | Iraq | Iran - Hindustan Times - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- End of US military presence in Iraq to be announced 'soon': Sudani - The Cradle - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- What JD Vance did in Iraq, as told by the friend who served with him - The Independent - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Iraq Wheat Production Up 21%, Official Says, Amid Ample Rainfall - Bloomberg - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Five people killed in drone strike on vehicle in Syria-Iraq border - The Jerusalem Post - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Five arrested over attack that wounded US troops in Iraq air base, statement says - Voice of America - VOA News - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Five arrested over Iraq airbase attack that wounded US troops, Iraq officials say - Reuters - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- What to Make of Recent Attacks on Coalition Bases in Iraq and Syria? - The Washington Institute - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- US troops injured in attack in Iraq as tensions in region increase - POLITICO - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Houthi drone expert among those killed in U.S. strike in Iraq - The Washington Post - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Seven US personnel injured in Monday rocket attack at Al Asad airbase in Iraq, including two evacuated for further care - CNN - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Vance Attacks Walzs Military Record, Accusing Him of Avoiding a Tour in Iraq - The New York Times - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- US personnel injured in attack on Al Asad airbase in Iraq - BBC.com - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Iraq-Born Austrian Auteur Kurdwin Ayub Keeps It Provocative With Moon: I Want to Trigger People - Hollywood Reporter - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Turkey says it killed 12 Kurdish militants in northern Iraq - Reuters - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- US Troops Injured in Attack on Air Base in Iraq as White House Warns of Possible Response - Air & Space Forces Magazine - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Oregon National Guard sends off 230 soldiers to Iraq and Syria - KGW.com - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Suspected rocket attack hits US Ain al-Asad base in Iraq - NewsNation Now - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- 5 arrested for rocket attack on base in Iraq that injured 4 service members, 1 contractor - Stars and Stripes - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Five pro-Iran fighters said killed in drone strike near Syria-Iraq border - The Times of Israel - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Tim Walzs military record under fire amid accusations he ducked the Iraq war - The Telegraph - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Several US troops injured in missile attack on base in Iraq - The Times of Israel - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- US base in Iraq hit amid rising Mideast tensions - The Week - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Tim Walz left National Guard battalion 'hanging,' 'slithered out the door' before Iraq deployment: vets - New York Post - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- US Forces Attacked in Iraq: What We Know - Newsweek - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Iraq plans to lower the marriage age for girls to nine: Here're the other proposed controversial changes - The Economic Times - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- Tracking Anti-U.S. and Anti-Israel Strikes From Iraq and Syria During the Gaza Crisis - The Washington Institute - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- In Iraq's summer, residents of Kurdistan's Arbil ache for water - The Paulding County Progress - August 11th, 2024 [August 11th, 2024]
- 2024 News items - Members welcome Iraqs return to WTO accession talks after 16 years - WTO Latest News - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- Is Houthi expansion in Iraq a genuine threat or smoke screen? - Al-Monitor - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- The Yezidi genocide devastated Iraqs community 10 years ago but the roots of the prejudice that fueled it were much deeper - The Conversation... - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- Lessons for postwar Gaza from Iraq and Afghanistan - JNS.org - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- UNODC participates in the 2nd Baghdad International Conference on Countering Narcotics and presents the report Drug Trafficking Dynamics across Iraq... - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- After 20 years, is Iraq making progress in bid to join WTO? - Al-Monitor - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- J.D. Vance Criticizes Bidens Support for Iraq War in 2003 But Pushes Hawkish Policy on China & Iran - Democracy Now! - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- Why the Pentagon Is Warning That ISIS Attacks Could Double This Year - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- APTOPIX Iraq Moon - The Daily Reflector - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- Iraq Moon - The Daily Reflector - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- Iraq to offer 100 investment opportunities - Iraqi News - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- ISIS attacks in Iraq and Syria up dramatically from 2023 - Task & Purpose - July 22nd, 2024 [July 22nd, 2024]
- Iraq's Sovereignty Is in Jeopardy. Why Is Nobody Speaking Up? | Opinion - Newsweek - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Iraq Is Surging The Tourism Industry With New Visa Free Entry Policy For 8 Countries Including UAE, Qatar And Bahrain - Travel And Tour World - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- OPEC crude oil production remains steady as Iraq, UAE pump above quota - WorldOil - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Army vet receives Bronze Star with valor 20 years later for bravery in Iraq ambush - Task & Purpose - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Iran's war of attrition against Israel and the US - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Turkey brings Al Nusra and other jihadists to Northern Iraq to fight against PKK - Medya News - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Iraq Iran Election | World | reflector.com - The Daily Reflector - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Iraq Humanitarian Transition Overview 2024 (June 2024) - Iraq - ReliefWeb - June 30th, 2024 [June 30th, 2024]
- Hamas Considering Relocation From Qatar To Iraq - Report - I24NEWS - i24NEWS - June 30th, 2024 [June 30th, 2024]