10 years ago, today...

[1911ShooterPhil]

I was a junior enlisted US Marine infantry scout, serving in a reconnaissance unit. My fellow Marines and I were part of 1st Marine Division's Regimental Combat Team 5.

I can remember crossing the "line of departure" as the invasion of Iraq began. Roughly 3 weeks later, we were fighting for Baghdad. Little did any of us know what we were getting into at that time...



There are likely many here on CalGuns that were also there, and who also can clearly remember where they were and what they were doing when the invasion of Iraq had begun.

Thankfully though, 10 years later, the conflict is over and done with. But, sadly, now there are many service members, and their families, who are still living with the aftermath of their service in that particular combat theater. So, for the 10th anniversay of the invasion of Iraq, I want to commemorate today and make sure we remember those that were killed in action or were wounded in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom.



Fair winds and following seas. Semper Fi! --1911ShooterPhil

[SonofWWIIDI]

Thank you all for your service!

[Riceball]

Oorah, Devil Dog!

[Raider510]

Never forget.....

[GMG]

A big thank you to all that have served !

[CrazyCobraManTim]

The last 12 years have been a blur. Thanks brothers for all you've done and continue to do...

[echo6cavedog]

Semper Fidelis, Brother! Thank you for your service.

[omnitravis]

Thank you.
"You are not forgotten"

[chris]

we are the ones who will never forget the Iraq War. Americans in general will forget this war not by there own volition but by the media and schools not teaching them of this war. Americans in general will never ever hear of the good work that the US military did there only the negative will be published and heard.

being there from Oct 05 to Sept 06 I will never forget my time in Iraq in my lifetime. the Iraq war was my war to put the demons away that I had for 14 years after Desert Storm. there is nothing more painful than being sent home for an injury and saying goodbye to those going to Saudi Arabia.

I will never forget as I stepped off the plane in Kuwait after that those demons were put to rest never to return.

if anyone here did not get deployed that wanted to go do not beat yourself up over it I did that not all the time but I did.

and for all of my brothers and sisters who served in Iraq we will never forget.

[1911ShooterPhil]

we are the ones who will never forget the Iraq War. Americans in general will forget this war not by there own volition but by the media and schools not teaching them of this war. Americans in general will never ever hear of the good work that the US military did there only the negative will be published and heard.

being there from Oct 05 to Sept 06 I will never forget my time in Iraq in my lifetime. the Iraq war was my war to put the demons away that I had for 14 years after Desert Storm. there is nothing more painful than being sent home for an injury and saying goodbye to those going to Saudi Arabia.

I will never forget as I stepped off the plane in Kuwait after that those demons were put to rest never to return.

if anyone here did not get deployed that wanted to go do not beat yourself up over it I did that not all the time but I did.

and for all of my brothers and sisters who served in Iraq we will never forget.

Thanks for sharing your journey. I am glad that you got to put many of your demons to rest. That must have been an intense yet uplifting feeling leaving the Persian Gulf for a second time, knowing that your demons were finally put to rest. That must have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you.

I personally believe that many things that the American people believe about Operation Iraqi Freedom will be set straight in 2028. Many things that happened leading up to, and during, the invasion of Iraq in 2003, were classified and those events won't be entered into the public domain until 2028 (thanks to EO 12958; which was later superseded by EO 13526). After that time, when those documents start getting released into the public domain, I think the American people will have more appreciation for what transpired during OIF, and appreciate the sacrifices that were made and the great deeds that were accomplished because of the hard work and determination of the US Armed Services. Just like how people now view the Vietnam War differently, versus how they did in the years immediately following that conflict. I think the same thing will happen with OIF. Or at least I hope and pray that's the case. --1911ShooterPhil

[BajaJames83]

i was driving a truck loaded with 155mm shells...
attached to B 1/11

[Raider510]

Mista, shukran!

Lol, remember all the kids with their thumbs up? I seem to remember that it was supposed to be like them giving us the finger, but they were smiling so who knows!

[SWalt]

Thanks to all who served and are serving still.

[kurupted]

This is where LAR was a force to be reckoned with...Not so much anymore

[sealocan]

thank you for your service to our country.