Frequently Asked Questions

After 9/11, my sons were both inspired to serve their nation, each joining the Navy. I wanted to support their decision by showing my own commitment to the Global War on Terror, so I returned to military service with the Army Reserve Medical Corps. Because of the critical need for physicians on the frontlines, I volunteered for deployment to Iraq.

Being able to help the injured—soldiers, combatants, and civilians alike—had deeply moved me during my first tour, and with the need for medical expertise only increasing with the US troop surge in 2007, I felt I had to go. I arrived in Iraq for my second deployment in early February 2008. My third deployment (2010-2011), occurred when my home Reserve unit, the 256th Combat Support Hospital, was ordered to Iraq.

Most Iraqis were friendly and hospitable, especially during the early stages of the war. They were grateful to the American-led coalition for getting rid of the tyrannical Saddam Hussein but didn’t want us to remain longer than necessary; neither did we.

The freedom to peaceably assemble and petition the government is one of the constitutional rights our military is sworn to defend. Giving aid and comfort to an enemy, as some war opponents did, is another matter entirely, and rejoicing in the deaths of US soldiers is clearly despicable. While antiwar protests may have influenced governmental policy, they did not affect the day-to-day conduct of the war or the morale of the troops.

During the early phase of the war, the insurgency consisted mainly of disenfranchised Sunnis and Saddam loyalists, along with a smattering of terrorists and common criminals. As the war continued bona fide terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda in Iraq, assumed a dominant role.

Iran was responsible for the deaths of at least 600 American troops in Iraq given that it was providing military support to Shiite militias, including armor-piercing explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) and Chinese-made 107mm rockets, which were used against our forces.

While physicians provide care to the sick and injured regardless of circumstances, I initially found it awkward attending to people who’d only recently attempted to kill me and my fellow soldiers. Over time, I realized that some of these insurgents were just boys or teenagers, often from poor families, who’d been bullied or bribed into committing hostile acts. Many suffered from horrific injuries, including limb amputations and spinal cord paralysis. I gradually adopted a more compassionate attitude towards these injured kids. It was my first step on the road to forgiveness toward enemy combatants.

Army officers, including physicians, were provided a Beretta handgun chambered for 9mm rounds. Although officially I was a “non-combatant,” I became proficient with this weapon and was expected to use it to defend myself, my patients, and fellow soldiers.

• December 2005—April 2006
• January—May 2008
• November 2010—September 2011

The Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal predated my deployment there but after the scandal, the ethical treatment of detainees became a priority for the military and treatment of prisoners was as humane as conditions would allow, especially in the delivery of medical care.

Convoys. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were a major threat to US military throughout the Iraq War, and they were especially prevalent on roads that our military convoys had no choice but to take. I traveled hundreds of miles by convoy during my first deployment and would often discover that Humvees were blown up on those same roadways—the day before or day after my trips—while the vehicles I rode in were miraculously never hit. Most of my travel in subsequent deployments was by air, a relatively safer mode of transport, although helicopters were sometimes shot down as well. Staying on a base also presented risks, given the omnipresent threat from mortars and rockets.

The complete system of body armor weighed over 30 pounds. While it provided protection against 7.62 mm rounds—commonly used by the enemy—the armor was hot and heavy and could become nearly unbearable in temperatures that often rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Humvee provided some protection against gunfire, shrapnel, and smaller IEDs, but it’s ride left much to be desired. It was designed for protection, not a smooth ride, and it was noisy, hot, and uncomfortable—especially for a 59-year-old soldier with a back problem.

Most bases had an established dining facility, called DFAC. MRE’s (Meals-Ready-to Eat) were used primarily when in the field on training, or on specific missions, or when on sustained travel. While some types of MREs were eminently forgettable, most provided a surprisingly good meal when a dining facility wasn’t available.

Over the course of three deployments, I lived in tents, metal boxes called Containerized Housing Units or CHUs, and a prison. During travel, I frequently stayed in air terminals and even a jail cell, sleeping on the floor when necessary. Soldiers tend to have a knack for catching shut-eye in the most obscure of places; we catch-as-catch-can when it’s safe to do so, never knowing what the next waking hours will bring.

The three most immediately life-threatening conditions requiring prompt intervention were tension pneumothorax (air trapped in the chest cavity), airway obstruction, and massive bleeding. Such conditions could be brought on by pressure waves from explosions, which could also cause loss of limbs and severe brain injury, and penetrating trauma from bullets or shrapnel that often resulted in severe or fatal injuries. Extensive third-degree burns were also usually fatal.

Yes, there are diseases endemic to the local environment in Iraq that are not encountered in the US but which I did see in Iraq. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic skin disease spread by the bite of a sand fly, which is rarely found in the US except in individuals who have recently returned from endemic areas like Iraq. Echinococcosis is caused by a tapeworm found in dogs and other canids, which commonly causes liver cysts in humans and is spread by food or water containing eggs from the parasite.

In a word, “yes.” Dust storms, also known as sandstorms, would strike suddenly, darken the sky, decrease visibility, irritate the eyes and make breathing difficult. There was little to be done except take shelter in one’s quarters, venturing out only with eye goggles and respiratory protection. A dust storm could last for days. The only good thing was that combat operations would cease due to poor visibility, and therefore, there were usually no casualties during these storms.

Temperatures sometimes exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit in Kuwait and Iraq during the summer months, especially in July. Because of low humidity, these temperatures were better tolerated than high humidity heat. Avoiding direct sunlight, dressing lightly, minimizing unnecessary activity, and drinking copious amounts of water were the best ways to avoid heat-related illness.

Some of the world’s most dangerous snakes can be found in Iraq, including the desert cobra and several species of pit viper. The saw-scaled viper produces a venom that is especially lethal and is thought to be responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other snake. Although less lethal, scorpion stings were also a threat. We always had antivenin available for both snake and scorpion bites.

There are few human activities with the same capacity to evoke fear as war. Death tugs on a soldier’s shirtsleeves, reminding you that tomorrow is promised to no one, especially not to you, and certainly not in Iraq. Each soldier dealt with fear in his own way. I went to Iraq of my own volition and knew why I was there—and knew the risks. I was comforted by the realization that, if the worst happened, my wife would mourn but move on with her life, and my adult children would do likewise.

Just war principles were first articulated by St. Augustine, a fourth-century theologian who greatly influenced the development of Western philosophy, and expanded by Thomas Aquinas, an influential thirteen-century Italian theologian. Jurists, philosophers, and scholars would later apply their principles to contemporary warfare. Assessing the Iraq War in light of just war theory is complicated but, on balance, it can be regarded as a just war. Because it was a just war, though, doesn’t necessarily mean that it was justified from a cost-benefit perspective.

Whether or not the Iraq War was worth it, specifically whether it was worth the cost in blood and treasure, is an entirely different question than determining if it was a just war. One must consider what the Middle East and, indeed, the world would be like today if Saddam Hussein were still in power. It may take another 25 years or more for historians to determine if the Iraq War was worth it.

Retired military personnel are still legally regarded as being in the military. Although I was a commissioned officer for over 20 years, some of those years were not counted for retirement purposes. Therefore, I was honorably discharged (not retired) and am no longer in the military. However, I still become involved in various military matters on behalf of individual soldiers and was recently designated as a US delegate to a NATO medical group.

I have a renewed focus on what is truly important, no longer worrying about trivial matters. Paradoxically, the war in Iraq strengthened my belief that each human life is sacred. It also reaffirmed the value of forgiveness, no matter how difficult it might be under any given circumstances.

Depression and symptoms of PTSD, which I’ve had, have lessened over the years but still linger. Preexisting low back pain, which was exacerbated by from the physical demands of three deployments, continues to worsen with age. These costs are relatively small, particularly when considering what other servicemen suffered—and the types of injuries I saw and treated.

Military life is not for everyone. The demands placed on servicemen and women can only be met by a relatively small portion of the population. For those so who do qualify, the military can be a positive, enriching experience unlike any other. The opportunity to be a part of something bigger than oneself and to defend one’s country while serving the needs of others—despite the dangers and hardships—is both transformative and gratifying.

Surprisingly, I acquired a number of unexpected insights during my time in Iraq. The first was reinforcing and expanding what I’d already known: Despite cultural differences, all human beings are fundamentally the same. The Iraqis sought good jobs, a better future for their children, the freedom to worship God as they saw fit, and, most importantly, peace.

I learned to be humbler and to temper my expectations. Sometimes you just can’t alter reality but only ameliorate its effects to make things better but not fundamentally different.

Finally, I gained a new appreciation for the power of forgiveness and the realization that those who need it the most are often those who deserve it the least. We all need to be forgiven from time-to-time and should be willing to do the same for others. The opposite of forgiveness is revenge, one of the main causes of war. We will never know real peace unless we learn to forgive.

During my youth, I often found myself at a crossroads, in trouble or on the brink of despair. When I was about to give up and abandon my dreams, someone always came into my life and provided the help I needed to stay the course. Without their involvement, I would never have made it.

I vowed one day to be that person for young men facing difficult times. Over the years, I have mentored, treated, or supported many troubled young men and during the course of my military service, saved the life of one and helped free another from prison. Most of these young people have gone on with their lives, but in a few cases, I’ve developed enduring, father-son relationships with them. 

Teen boys and young men seem more troubled now than any time in recent memory. Much of this stems from the lack of strong male figures in their lives. Adult males who are willing to serve as mentors save lives and perform an invaluable service to their communities. I hope to continue my mentoring activities as long as possible.