“Ladies and gentlemen, you have the worst job in the world. You train, day in and day out, for what you hope never happens. But when it happens, you are always ready.” Those were the last words spoken by our Commanding Officer just before we boarded the bus that would take us to our plane headed for Fallujah, Iraq in early 2005. He was right. June 23rd, 2005 was a day we lost female Marines and Sailors who were an essential part of our team. Their convoy was hit by an IED. Some were in body bags for the intended purpose of the body bag. Others were burned and injured but in body bags for warmth because it’s what we had. The smell of burned hair and flesh is not easily forgotten… “Through the gates of hell for a wounded Marine.”

We were there at a time when Iraq was having its first vote on their Constitution - a positive part of their history. The Marines helped train the Iraqi Army and the Public Order Battalion in an effort to gain control of their country. As Hospital Corpsmen, we ensured the Iraqi men were healthy enough to endure the rigors of military training. There were people who showed up to the camps to harm us, but the majority were there to give something positive to their country. Despite its hardships, I wouldn’t trade that experience. Serving with the Marines in Iraq has been one of the highlights of my career.