PenelopeCox ENGL1301Adams 6thPeriod 12Dec.2013 InterviewwithTravisStrange,DesertStormVeteran Interviewer:PenelopeCox Interviewee:TravisStrange,LPC Setting:Conductedviaemail Date:11Dec.2013 (Interviewpurpose,etceterawerediscussedinpersonatapriordate.Startofinterview.) PenelopeCox:Canyoupleasedescribeyourmilitaryinvolvement? TravisStrange:IcompletedtraininginVirginiaandwasstationedinGermany,Katterbauchwith501stMilitary Intelligence.AfterbeingthereforaroundayearIwassenttoIraq,Kuwait,SaudiArabia,andvariousotherplacesas wewerejoinedwith1stArmorDivision.Purposeofourunitwastogatherintel. PC:Whatwasyourposition?

TS:Communicationsandavarietyofotherresponsibilitiesrequiringasecretclearance. PC:Whatwereyourtypesofserviceorwork? TS:Therewereanumberofresponsibilitiesrequiringdocumentationandworkingasaunitwithothersoldiers.This includeddeliveryofinformationfromunittounitduringDesertStorm.Theseactionswerecompletedatnightandno lightwasallowed.Mostofthetravelwasdone,almost100%,byGPSandnightvision.Afterbeingdebriefedwewere

remindedthatmanyoftheissuesduringthistimeweresecretclearancerequiredandconsequenceswouldoccurif specificdetailswereprovided. PC:Howlongdidyouserveinthemilitary? TS:Ienlistedfora3yeartermbutcontinuedintheReservesforaboutayear. PC:Howlonghasitbeensinceyourdischarge? TS:Iwashonorablydischargedin1992. PC:Whathaveyoudoneinthemeantime? TS:I'vebeenayouthpastor,UPSsupervisor,jeweler,andnowatherapist. PC:Didyoureceiveanyhonors,awards,oranyothertypesofrecognition? TS:IreceivedanumberofhonorsandawardsinthemilitarymainlyduringDesertStorm.ThehighestwastheMedal ofCommendation.IwasputinforaBronzeStarbytheOfficerinchargebutitwasrejectedastheunitatthistime onlyallowedacertainrankandabovetoreceivethisaward. PC:Anytravelsormilitaryrelatedtrips? TS:IhavebeentomanycountriesincludingSaudiArabia,Kuwait,Iraq,NeutralZonewedgedinthemiddleofthe previouslymentionedcountriesonalandwherenoonecouldclaim,Germany,EastGermany,Czechoslovakia,Italy, Austria,andBahrainasmallcountryislandoutsideofSaudiArabia. PC:Anythingelseyou'dliketoinclude? TS:BeinginthefirstDesertStormwasanhonor.MygrandfatherwasaWW2Vet,dadwasaVietnamVet,andIwas aDesertStormVet.BeinginawarsettingisdifficulttotranslatetoeverydaylifeinAmerica.Thewayonelives, thinks,reacts,andevenprioritiesaremanytimessignificantlydifferentandthetransitionformanyisdifficult.Most ofusduringthewarfeltsoclosetodeathandtherealityofbeinghurtwasatitshighest.Thesurvivalsensesare incrediblysharpsowhenIcamebacktotheUS,evenaloudnoisewouldcausemetokinda"freakout,"sotospeak.

Therearetoomanystoriestotellbutitissurelyoneofthemostlifechangingexperiencesapersonwillever experienceandonlythosewhohaveactuallybeentherecantrulyknowtherealityandintensityoftheexperience. PC:Thankyouverymuchforsharingyourexperience,Travis.