Damon Evans
Active Duty, Optometry NCOIC
From Queens, New York
Army, Staff Sergeant
Advanced Medic Program Instructor
Iraq 11/06-11/07
Words Provided in 2014
Written Statement
From Queens, New York
Army, Staff Sergeant
Advanced Medic Program Instructor
Iraq 11/06-11/07
Words Provided in 2014
Written Statement
I volunteered for Iraq. I was assigned to work on a MiTt at Camp Taji. Our job was to train Iraqi medics with the same US Army Medic training.
Classes were 9 weeks long. 7 days a week. We had 3 classes. First group of Soldiers went through without much trouble. 5 Students became instructors for the second class. 3rd class was done by the new instructors. Those same instructors went on to become the first Iraqi Flight medics.
Working with these guys who pulled out all the stops to work hard for a better Iraq. All of them had children and wives (many) that they left to be a soldier. And also run the risk that, if and when they went home, they could be captured, tortured and/or killed. It happened once, but it was the rotation before I arrived at Camp Taji. I noticed that many Soldiers held their prejudices out and it made it difficult for them to get along with the Iraqi medics.
We were also supplemented by the Australian army. This was a great experience working alongside them.
Many friends were made that are still in contact. Hearing about another Servicemember being seriously injured or killed hurt a lot, and that it could happen to me was scary but I was prepared as much as I thought I was. I will never forget what I learned out there, the friends that I made and the ones that were lost.
Classes were 9 weeks long. 7 days a week. We had 3 classes. First group of Soldiers went through without much trouble. 5 Students became instructors for the second class. 3rd class was done by the new instructors. Those same instructors went on to become the first Iraqi Flight medics.
Working with these guys who pulled out all the stops to work hard for a better Iraq. All of them had children and wives (many) that they left to be a soldier. And also run the risk that, if and when they went home, they could be captured, tortured and/or killed. It happened once, but it was the rotation before I arrived at Camp Taji. I noticed that many Soldiers held their prejudices out and it made it difficult for them to get along with the Iraqi medics.
We were also supplemented by the Australian army. This was a great experience working alongside them.
Many friends were made that are still in contact. Hearing about another Servicemember being seriously injured or killed hurt a lot, and that it could happen to me was scary but I was prepared as much as I thought I was. I will never forget what I learned out there, the friends that I made and the ones that were lost.