Michael Aguirre: From the Front Lines

Alumnus Michael Aguirre (Class of '94, B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies) is currently serving in Iraq as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) for the United States Army. A 25-year veteran of the California Army National Guard, he was sent last summer from his home base in Long Beach, California, to Fort Bliss, Texas, to prepare for deployment.

As Unit Movement Officer, Aguirre oversaw the transport of personnel and equipment of the 40th Corps Support Group (CSG) to Iraq via Kuwait. His task was to plan the logistics to ensure that the unit was mission capable. As the former manager of Logistical and Support Services at CSUDH from 2000 to 2004, he knew too well the responsibilities of staying on schedule. In that position however, he did not have to consider the additional dangers of going to war.

“I worked long hours to ensure we moved out on time,” he recalls. “Upon arrival in Kuwait, the next step was to ensure that our equipment was moving ahead of us on schedule. Planning the mission home is going to be very stressful because deadlines have to be met and movement has to be precise. But that's what I thrive on, being a logistics officer.”

After starting his assignment in Iraq, Aguirre was transferred to the S-4 Logistics branch to replace a fellow CWO who was sent home for medical reasons. Currently, he is assigned as the Property Book Officer at the Brigade level. He manages two battalions, each consisting of 11 companies. He is also completing his master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace building (NCRP) through CSUDH’s online M.A. Degree Program in Behavioral Science. He ran for Carson City Council in 2004 and looks forward to resuming his political aspirations when he returns home, focusing on youth programs in his community and entering the labor relations field.

Aguirre is scheduled for leave this April and will return afterward to Iraq for a final five months of duty there. He is slated to attend a warrant officer’s advanced course in Ft. Lee, Va. in October. Since being deployed, Aguirre has provided family, friends and IDH with periodic e-mails describing life in a combat zone. What follows is a nearly verbatim account of those messages, with minimal changes for clarity.

Sept. 24, 2005
Finally made it to Kuwait after an exhausting 23-hour plane trip. On the way here from Fort Bliss, we stopped at Indianapolis; Shannon, Ireland; and Budapest, Hungary. We are scheduled to travel to Iraq this coming week. The heat is unreal; it’s about 120 degrees every day. There are sandstorms and no plant life. This place reminds me of a 21st-century Tombstone, with soldiers passing through on their way to the battlefront.

We will be headed out to the field for a couple of days for final validation combat training. After landing in Kuwait, it took about two hours [to arrive at] Camp Buehring. On the way, I was so paranoid about cars passing by our buses.

Something interesting that caught my eye was a herd of camels and a Kuwaiti in a truck, who was herding them past a Burger King. It's so “Wild West.”

Anyway, I'm in a safe zone for now. But you have to be constantly on the alert.

Write later, Michael 

Sept. 26, 2005

Hey Family & Friends,

Getting ready to go into the zone. Got my A-game ready. I want to thank everyone who has written back. Even though I have my soldiers, nothing soothes the soul like hearing from loved ones back home. I want to send some pictures, but they have the systems blocked off. I will have to wait until I get to Iraq.

I will send you more pictures once I get my computer in Iraq. These Internet cafés are very picky about what we can send back home. It's an OPSEC (Operational Security) issue. We head for the zone on Thursday. We were training about eight miles south of Iraq’s border for the last couple of days. We are ready to go. We get a day off to take care of some last-minute issues.

Take care, Michael 

Oct. 3, 2005

Greetings all,

Well, I made it into the zone with some fireworks. What a way to land – we practically had to nosedive, then level out to avoid insurgents firing rockets at us. Once we landed we found out about the mortar attack in progress. Since I've been here we have had daily mortar fire, which sucks because we have to hit the bunkers and wait. We haven't been hit today, which is good, so I can eat and work out later. Things are settling down.

I was blessed to land an office job, so I won't see any frontline action. But it's a long year and things happen so fast here that I won't take anything for granted. Money is hard to come by, as there are no ATMs or banks. However, you can cash a personal check and get $300 a week. I use my military credit card, and I can get $20 back with a purchase. Things are going well and we have some outlets – Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, The Green Bean Coffee Hut, and Baskin Robbins. There are several gyms, two pools, several PX's (Base Exchange stores), and a couple of movie theaters.
 
There are several other comforts. I'm grateful because I no longer live in a tent or barracks. We have mobile-home trailers with air-conditioning. Once again, thanks for writing back, I really appreciate it.

God Bless, Michael 

Dec. 18, 2005

(Editor’s note: This message accompanied an aerial photo of hundreds of Iraqi citizens lined up to vote in the first election.)
How many Americans would wait in line to vote? You don't see the media showing these types of pictures. This is the beginning of democracy and freedom of choice. Let's pray and have faith that this will lead to an early return. OK, I'm selfish, I want to come home.

Love ya, Michael 

Dec. 19, 2005

I can't give full details, but just a basic outline. A typical day consists of:

a. Wake up at 0530 hours. Meditate and pray.
b. Check my weapon and ammo.
c. Hygiene.
d. Provided no mortar attacks, get ready. After a weapons and ammo check, I gear up with my IBA (bulletproof vest), helmet, and I'm ready for the walk to work.
e. Head off for work. I usually arrive anywhere from 0600-0830 hours depending on alert status.
f. I usually have a brief with the S-4 (Logistics) section. These are battalion status and issues. My involvement is limited, except when equipment comes into play.
g. I check all incoming messages from the battalions.
h. Depending on the work load, after checking with my staff and reviewing the day’s tasks, I can be out in the field inspecting and checking on various units that fall under the 40th CSG.
i. I rarely go to the dining facility. I have this thing about crowds. I mostly eat on the run or one of my soldiers brings me chow.
j. My workday usually ends about 1800-1930 hours at night.
k. The rest of the day/evening consists of working out for about 1 1/2 hrs day, phone calls to home, laundry, reading, shower and off to sleep.

My workday varies, with meetings, traveling to units, or going on logistic tasks. With a staff of five personnel, we are busy all the time. After work, I take care of personal business, such as laundry and getting personal supplies. I usually head to the gym about 1730 hours, and then to the library to work on my online course in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building at CSUDH. It is an irony that here I am studying about NCRP and in a war.

I usually turn in for the evening about 2300 hours, sometimes later. I start it all over again six days a week.

On Sundays, I attend worship or work on projects around my hooch (sandbagging, walkways) to improve my surroundings. I recently built a deck, which really helps right now because it has been raining and the mud is so thick that rocks stick to your shoes.

Since being here, I have learned so much about the history, culture, and way of life of the Iraqi people. I have been researching the history of Iraq. I didn't realize that in the Bible, Iraq is the second most mentioned geographical area, after Israel. The Iraqi people have a passion for gold. Rug trading is a big thing as well. I bought about six Persian rugs. You rarely see Iraqi women. The base we are on was Saddam’s pride and joy, a showcase air base. After the first Gulf War, Saddam abandoned the base because of the no-fly rule.

I wish I could get into detail but I might get in trouble.

Michael Aguirre 

Dec. 25, 2005

(Editor’s note: Aguirre was injured when he stepped in a hole while running for cover during a mortar attack. He spent two and a half months on crutches and was told he would be sent home or out of the zone if he didn’t heal. During the Christmas holidays, he sent some photos of scenes from the hospital.)

Today, I found myself at a loss. I went to the hospital to spread a little cheer and gifts and found myself weeping. What a price we pay for freedom. I visited some Iraqi soldiers who were badly injured by a car bomb. One soldier showed me his family and kids while he had all these pins on his legs. I just about lost it. I really lost it when I saw two little boys who were victims of mortar fire.

I ran into a “Local Bruddah” from Hawaii who was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device). It was a moment of sharing with him, and it made his day.

I could not communicate with the Iraqi soldiers [while seeing] all the blood from their wounds. Though we spoke different languages, there was a mutual feeling that it would be all right.

I could only think of the children, the real victims of war. One of the pictures I took was of [a man who] lost his two brothers and two children when a mortar hit his house. His son is going to make it, but he is so scarred. His father showed me his wounds, which are on his torso and legs. I had a hard time looking at them. I believe we were all humbled, and I know that I will never forget this experience.

I was able to chat with some injured American soldiers. For them the war is over. I pray that the little children make out OK. My compassion has a new meaning. So for this Christmas, I ask for prayers for the innocent victims of this war.

God Bless you all.

Love, Michael 

Jan. 1, 2006

I wanted to take time out and wish all of you the best for 2006. I plan on having a good year, because I return home in 2006.

Best Wishes
Michael 

Jan. 26, 2006

I know that I can't go into detail with a lot of things. However, I do want to share a little insight about what it's like to be in the combat zone.

When I first got on the plane from Kuwait, I was excited and scared all in one. We landed at night, and when the ramp opened, you could hear the mortars hit the ground. Then the aircrew member started shouting to start running to the bus when we got off the ramp. It was then that I asked myself, “What the hell did I get myself into?” For about two months straight, mortar attacks were a daily occurrence. I've had some close calls. But you try not to think about it, and treat every day as normal. After a while, you just say, “If it’s my time to go, it’s my time,” and drive on. But you are not in a normal environment.

We haven't been hit lately, but there are still attacks on the base. It’s a big base with about 22,000 soldiers and civilians. The Tigris River runs adjacent to the base. You can quickly lose sight and think you’re OK, but then as you drive by a mortar landing, you realize you’re in the zone.

Michael

Feb.1, 2006

I appreciate the support. I'm very lucky that I have had a lot of support from my family and friends. For those on active duty, it’s a little different in that they are moving all the time. One of the hardest things about being a Guardsman is leaving your family behind and going. When people support us, it really goes a long way, especially when those tough emotional days come along.

A good friend asked me to go with him on a new mission because this is his last before retiring. I said ‘yes’ without thinking. I realize that I have put my wife and children through some stressful and lonely conditions. But their understanding, overwhelming support, and pride in me being over here is all I need to make it back home. I was on another mission which was a cupcake deployment.
 
I thank the Lord for the blessings.
Michael

Photos above: CWO Aguirre takes a break during convoy operations.

Second photo: Grouping up for weapons training in the Kuwait desert just 12 kilometers from the Iraq border.

Third photo: Aguirre writes," I spent Christmas Eve visiting soldiers when this boy caught my eye. I have a son his age. He was eight years old, a victim of a mortar bomb in his village. He taught me my first Arabic word, 'Shukran,' which means, 'Thank you.' The gentleman is his father.

Fourth photo: Aguirre writes,"Taking a convoy to Iraq, passing through a town, with two of our Kuwaiti supporters cheering us on. This makes us a little uneasy as we are not supposed to allow people to get close to us and are supposed to wave them on. I would probably get nervous if these boys were to do this again after I've been here awhile. I assure you my weapon would not be on safe."

Fifth photo: Aguirre with Sgt. Olivas from El Paso, Texas, enjoying MREs (meals-ready-to-eat).