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)