Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 16, 2010

Jeremy PRUITT entered the Army when he was only 20 years old. When asked why he decided to join his answer was, "To further my education by free tuition and the sign on bonus was really good and I'm just a patriotic person."

He went through basic training which includes six weeks of running, weapon training, chemical warfare, urban warfare, land navigation, rescue as in CPR and basic medication things was well as Iraq training, which includes urban warfare, hand to hand combat and acclimatization. He stated that it was basically "six weeks of hell."

There were a lot of emotions going through that whole process, but when they told him he was going to Iraq he said that he was pissed because it was on Valentines Day night and he was on a date, but excited at the same time because he had never been to war.

PRUITT told me that he felt very prepared when he got to Iraq because of the months and months of training he had to go through.

When we talked about the Iraqis and I asked him how he thought that they felt about the whole situation he told me that most of them like the soldiers, but not all of them did, it just kind of depended on where you were at.

He went through a lot of experiences in Iraq, but the one thing he said that he will remember the most as the worst part of it was all the dead bodies.

"I thought it was gonna be like the movies, but it's not. . . We saw a father shoot his son because he disobeyed him," he said.

Also all of the poverty was a huge part of the Iraqi life style. Along with uncleanlines there was a lack of hygiene, which made him appreciate the way he lives now. PRUITT feels that going over there was very successful. He felt like he helped a lot of people and a lot was accomplished.

PRUITT'S platoon was very close while they were in Iraq, but he said that keeping in touch was so difficult because everyone was from all over. If he can find them on Facebook, then it's easy to keep in touch, but otherwise it's pretty much impossible.

PRUITT ws very excited to come home because he was ready to see his friends and family again. He said that the best part about the whole experience was coming home and seeing everyone again.

When asked if he would bo back again his response was, "Yes, to help because that's one less married man who has to leave his family."

PRUITT experienced a lot of things that not many people can handle, but he came out of that experience stronger. It helped him to appreciate the little things and to never take anything for granted.

Most people who came out of his platoon got divorces or had some other kind of problem after coming home. Not just anyone can handle seeing all the things he saw and having to do some of the things they had to do and come out just fine.

That's why I am thankful for our troops and the fact that they are willing to risk their lives to save ours. I didn't have as much appreciation for them as I do now, knowing Jeremy. So, not only did he help lives there, he also helped me and my family have a better understanding for just how lucky we all are.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2012