I am a veteran

(EXCERPT) by Maj. Dani Johnson Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

11/7/2003 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) -- “I am a veteran.”
Four words that still seem so strange for me to say.

In my mind, veterans have always been the men in their American Legion
or Veterans of Foreign Wars caps who served in World War II, Korea and
Vietnam. It hasn’t been the airman or officer you see playing with a
young child in the park or have over to your house for a barbeque.

In September I returned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from a
five-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq, and Camp Doha, Kuwait, as part
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I didn’t think much about the term
“veteran” as I quickly outprocessed there and headed here for my new
assignment.

Now that I’m in my new office, I’ve had time to reflect on the past
year and what being a veteran means.

During the time I was deployed, I was shot at and found out that if I
had to I could defend myself and was lucky I didn’t have to. I worked
longer hours and was more fatigued than I ever thought I could be and
still accomplish the mission.

One of my most memorable experiences was when...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com