Operation Purple Pride Headlines
- Operation Purple Pride welcomes personal diaries or journals, photos, quick news updates about you and other classmates serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.
- Nursing soldiers and cheerleading Rachel Engler ('05) took on the challenges of the U.S. Navy, nursing and the Washington Redskins
- Supporting U.S. troops from the air Jeffrey Cretz ('03) serves second deployment in Middle East
- Second tour in Iraq feels right U.S. Army officer and ROTC program graduate Jeffrey Farmer ('88) takes major changes in stride
- Helping make Baghdad a safer place JMU ROTC graduate Capt. Dan Hodermarsky ('03) keeps HQ vehicles in top shape
- No clowning around for this Navy 'bozo' Aviator David Hunter "Bozo" Bankart ('99) takes pride in giving back
- Hobby turns into career Brennan Sweeney ('97) enjoys the art of aviation
- Baghdad, family crisis and intercultural cooperation Eric Johnson ('95) reports on the first days of Operation Iraqi Freedom with Task Force Tarawa Marines
- Different perspectives Will Schiek ('87) leads more than 500 U.S. soldiers providing logistics, security and communications for their Iraqi counterparts
- A service-oriented life Joe Clem ('89) provides medical support in Baghdad
- Rebuilding Iraq Civil Affairs officer Maj. Patrick Creed ('93) works with Iraqis to rebuild a nation
- Serving with JAG Corps in Iraq Lt. Col. Michael McWright ('85) with the Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps
- Bringing democracy to the Afghani people and airwaves Maj. Patrick Kerr ('90) with Task Force Lightning
- Securing Baghdad's west side Capt. Shawn Harper ('97) reports on duty in Iraq
- Learning to fly Black Hawks Former JMU recruiter Lt. Kenny Ward ('03) now in 82nd Aviation Brigade
- A brief hello to fellow Dukes Lt. Col. Don Mosman ('85) reports from Iraq
- JMU's award-winning ROTC program Program repeatedly ranked in the top five percent in the nation.
- Maj. Mitchell Bell ('88) rescues injured Marines Marine reservist serves in Al Taqaddum, Iraq
- 1st Lt. James Sheasley ('02) cheers on the Dukes Purple, gold and green for this Marine
- Supporting the global war on terrorism Charles May ('83) is serving in Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- Coming home Iraqi war veteran returns to JMU ROTC
- Warhorn History: Lt. Col. Laurie Moe Buckhout's ('84) Operation Iraqi Freedom diary
- MREs for 200,000? Army food service director Lt. Col. Don Vtipil ('84) serves three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan
- A Blackhawk pilot's view of Operation Iraqi Freedom A journal entry by Major Donald R. Nitti ('88)
Securing Baghdad's west side
Capt. Shawn Harper ('97) at the Hands of Victory arches in Baghdad. These "crossed sabers" marking the entrance to a parade ground are made from melted-down weaponry from the Iran/Iraq war.
DATELINE: December 2005
In 1997, I graduated from JMU where I majored in history. Currently I'm assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery of the 1st Armored Division stationed out of Wiesbaden, Germany.
My unit deployed to Iraq in May 2003 and served in Baghdad until May 2004 maintaining the security of the city's western zones around Baghdad International Airport. We manned all the entry control and observation points of the airfield and patrolled the zones to the west and south of the airport to counter surface-to-air missile threats, mortar and rocket attacks, improvised explosive devices known as IEDs, and roadside bombs.
We lost two of our soldiers to an IED in February 2004. It was a difficult time for the entire unit and something that I will never forget.
Although my time in Baghdad was a long and challenging year for my family and me, there are a lot of things that I enjoy about my job. Knowing that I served my country in a time of war, that my efforts will make the United States a safer place, and that I helped rebuild an oppressed country make me extremely proud. Our efforts have yielded incredible results. When the 1st Armored Division arrived in Baghdad, the city was extremely dangerous and unstable. After our year there, we handed Baghdad over to the 1st Cavalry Division in much better shape and have given the citizens of Iraq a chance to succeed in running their own country.
Editor's note: Harper received the Bronze Star in recognition of his service in Iraq.