Cross-Posted at Daily KosToday, the Associated Press announced that we have reached 3,000 deaths of U.S. service-members in Iraq.
I think today is appropriate for me to finally tell everyone the story of my service in the Iraq War.
Six days after 9/11, I dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. I was 17 years old, going on 18. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of joining the U.S. Military.
After basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois and a short specialty school in Meridian, Mississippi, I was off to serve on what would be an historic tour of 4 years on the USS Abraham Lincoln ported in Everett, Washington.
I arrived on the deck of the "Abe" in early March 2002. After just a few months of my arrival, our ship left on a regular scheduled 6-month deployment in July 2002.
After some time training off the coast of Pearl Harbor for our deployment for the Persian Gulf, we finally entered the U.S. 5th Fleet, which is now called the "Iraq Theater" on September 11th, 2002.
That day - as shown in the picture at the top of this diary - in response to President Bush's call for the military to "Be Ready," we spelled out the message "Ready Now."
It was an emotional day onboard the ship that day. Just one year earlier, the United States had gone though one of the most horrific days in our history. As we stood watch entering the Persian Gulf, we understood our mission was to be ready against all threats to our nation.
Looking back, the week before I left in late June 2002, Senator John Kerry told CNN that he had warned against the invasion of Iraq. It was then that I could start to see the very early footsteps to war. I warned my shipmates that we might not return in our 6-month time frame. No one listened.
I was ready, because I knew that we were headed for war.
After many months of bombing campaigns over Afghanistan and Southern Iraq (Operation Southern Watch) we left the Gulf at our 5th month to return home.
After a brief R&R visit in Australia, we headed home to return to our familes. But, one night we got "the call" and we turned around.
In the morning, our Admiral briefed all of us and told us that Secretary Rumsfeld had personally ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln to turn around and head back to the Persian Gulf, indefinitely.
Everyone was shocked. I wasn't.
As we saw the case from the United States to the United Nations to go to war we waited. As we saw more ships, more military might head and enter the theatre. we waited. As we were briefed about any possible conflict, we waited. As we waited, we were issued chemical and biological suits for precautionary reasons.
As it appeared we were in the final days of approach to war, I warned my shipmates that I thought we should allow the UN continue its inspections, that we should wait rather than rush. Then, I found a General on CNN who had similar concerns about Iraq.
On March 19, 2003 in the early hours of the morning we were all awakened by our Skipper (Commanding Officer) to inform us that the time had come. As we awoke, I felt our war planes leave the deck.
Then, I turned on CNN with my gas mask still in hand and they said the campaign had begun. Afraid, confused, upset, I carried on that day awaiting our fate and the fate of the Iraqis.
Because we were informed Iraq planned to use chemical and biological weapons on us, it was the only day of my life I thought I might die.
Luckily, I was wrong.
What I was right about was the invasion. During our second tour in the Gulf that consisted of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, few of us onboard that ship expressed frustration with our actions but no one was really free to speak of it.
After our nearly 10-month deployment, we returned home. As we left the Persian Gulf, I predicted the President would visit our ship upon return home.
I was again right, partly.
On May 1st, 2003 President Bush landed on the Deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln being rang on (announced) as "United States, arriving." In an EA-6B Prowler flown by the Squadron commander, President Bush then gave his historic "Mission Accomplished" speech with all of us on deck.
Finally, on May 6th 2003 we arrived home.
I have friends who have served with me in all branches - Marines, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Army. I have lost friends because of Iraq. I have friends & family in Iraq today. I have friends that will surely go soon.
Today, I will publicly state what I have privately felt for years. Invading Iraq was a mistake, it was an elective war. Saddam Hussein was a horrible dictator, but he was contained. He had no WMD and had the UN finished its inspections before we ordered them to leave we may have found that out and never had gone to war.
Thousands of servicemembers of our military would still be here, and Iraq might be more stable that it is today.
President Bush won't admit it. Vice President Cheney won't admit it. Former Secretary Rumsfeld won't admit it. But, my new boss Secretary Gates has admitted it.
Now, 3,000 are dead. It's time for us to admit that many were very wrong about Iraq.