American Veteran: Keep It Close

When U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Amjad “A.J.” Kirrish deployed to Syria, he didn’t expect to fall in love — let alone with an orphaned puppy. “Harley” and A.J. quickly bonded, and she became a source of comfort and stability for A.J. As his deployment wrapped up, A.J. began making plans to bring Harley back home to the U.S. with him. What came next proved to be a harrowing journey…

Harvey Pratt is a member of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux Tribes, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War. Lessons from his elders, such as putting a pebble in his mouth to help stave off thirst, helped him thrive and look after his fellow soldiers in Vietnam. These teachings benefited him throughout his successful career in law enforcement, giving him strength and support.

Clara Driscoll was an Army officer for more than two decades. In Kosovo early in her career she met an Albanian woman who gave her a vial of lip gloss, a gesture of kindness Clara has never forgotten. Later, in Afghanistan, she wore an abaya as a sign of respect for the local population. Clara’s service taught her about the importance of seeking human connections and looking beyond differences.

During his deployment in Iraq, Army Veteran Jeff “Soldier Hard” Barillaro recorded rap music as a form of stress relief. Once a civilian, his music helped keep him grounded and gave him an outlet for the difficult emotions raised by his time in combat. Today, he keeps his old microphone from Iraq as a reminder of that time, and he works with other veterans to heal through music.

Yolanda Mayo was in the Marines for three decades. When she deployed to Afghanistan, her husband sent her a stuffed bunny for Easter. It became her son’s first toy then her daughter’s. A decade later Yolanda was called back into active duty, and her children insisted she take the bunny on her deployment to Iraq. For Yolanda and her family, the bunny represents freedom and home.

Wade Ishimoto served in the Army and was the intelligence officer for Operation Eagle Claw, the failed rescue attempt of 52 hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1980. Wade continued to work in intelligence, determined to teach soldiers to learn from their mistakes. He kept the evacuation maps from the failed mission as a reminder of resilience and the importance of building from failure.

As a cadet at West Point Andrea Peters went to great lengths to make her textured hair conform to Army regulations and standards. The regulations prevented her from fully expressing her individuality and affected her sense of self. Andrea’s hair pick serves as a reminder that though regulations have eased over the years, there is still progress to be made.

Patricia Harris was in the Army for more than two decades. When stationed in Germany she experienced sexual harassment on active duty and domestic violence at home. The one place she found solace was in her red VW beetle. When she later deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, she carried a replica of the car with her. Today the toy serves as a constant reminder of hope and freedom.

Marine veteran Saul Monroy was deployed in Afghanistan when he was severely injured in a truck explosion. His watch was found in the debris, still ticking. After dozens of surgeries and a lengthy recovery, Saul’s leg was amputated. He is now a member of the USA Patriots softball team, which is made up of amputee players, and he keeps moving forward, just like his watch.

Janessa Goldbeck was an out, queer woman when she joined the Marines. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was still in place, forcing her to hide her true self from others. After its official repeal, she was able to bring her authentic self to her service and help educate others about LGBTQ issues. She kept the DADT contract as a reminder that pushing for change goes hand in hand with being a patriot.