In March of 2004 I deployed to Iraq for one year with the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division. In March 2005 I convoyed back to Kuwait, from Baghdad. I thought I was done my deployment. I had already made my family aware that I would be in Kuwait preparing to return home. Once back in Kuwait my superior told me I had to go back to Baghdad, Iraq on one last mission to turn humvees over to the Third Infantry Division and then fly back to Kuwait.

It was two days by convoy to Baghdad. After the first day we stopped to eat and sleep at Camp Cedar Two in Iraq. That evening I was walking to the chow hall behind my squad. When I looked up I was stopped in my tracks by what I saw. It was a street sign that read SPC. Jarrett Thompson St. He was my cousin who died in September 2003 while serving in Iraq. Jarrett was in the U.S. Army Reserve 946th Transportation Company.  I could not believe that I found a street sign on my last mission with Jarrett's name on it, this mission that I was not supposed to be on. While looking at his sign I realized why I survived my year in Iraq. Jarrett had been watching over me like a guardian angel. I then realized my mission was to find his sign. I never knew where he had served in Iraq until that day.