On this date in 2003, the ground-war in Iraq began in the wee hours of the morning, around 0200 local time. I crossed the border as a team leader with 2nd Sqd, 1st Plt, B Co, 11th EN BN, TF 2-7INF, 1st BDE, 3ID on the initial invasion. I was the second Engineer from my company to cross the border (my driver crossed the border just before me). I was the TC in my M113 (call sign Bulldog 1-2 Alpha) and the .50cal gunner. I didn't know it at the time, but I would cross that border 3 more times before it was all said and done. It seems like ages ago and yet it seems like yesterday.

ROCK OF THE MARNE

I'm posting this because this event set in motion the events that changed my life forever, and it is therapeutic to me to post about it. The anniversary this year of crossing the border and all the follow-on events is kinda surreal to me. Excluding '04, '06, '08, and '09 when I was deployed again to Iraq, I always had Casey to help me get through the anniversaries and the memories. This year, I am facing them alone. In many ways, the deployments were easier than the memories from those deployments

I'm cross-posting on the Politics, General, and History boards, as well as on Premium

Who was Casey?

Not to bring politics to the military board. But I think if more in Washington actually served, especially in combat arms, or spent time with those that did serve, they would be far less cavalier with the decision to go to war.