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May 2008
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His home is Albany, Oregon. He is a graduate of Oregon State University in Civil Engineering. In his civilian job he works as a Design Engineer for the Oregon Department of Transportation. For this deployment, Sgt. James is a team leader for 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, B. SECFOR. Originally from the area around Burns, Oregon, Sgt. James served in the Regular Army from 1984 to 1989, with tours in Germany, Korea, and Ft. Drum, New York with the 10th Mountain Division. In August of 2005 at the age of 40, having been out of the Army for over 15 years, Sgt. James made a decision to re-enlist in the Oregon Army National Guard. "I got tired of hearing people talk, talk and talk about the war but always having excuses for not serving... the house, a new SUV, "I've got a family," or "I wouldn't want my kids to go over there"... those kind of excuses. They always want somebody else to do it." Sgt. James is an example of what makes the National Guard so unique. Well educated, and a working professional in his community, he is driven not by blind patriotism, but by a belief in the values that he sees make citizenship in this country unique. "Somebody turned to me a while ago and asked me what I thought of Cindy Sheehan... They said,'So how do you feel about that stupid bitch.' I said, 'Well, I think she has every right to to protest. It's my job as a soldier to defend her right to do that.'...This is something that drives me every day." "During the campaign for President George Bush [Senior's] election, flag burning came up as an issue. I was in the Regular Army then. And I remember telling my soldiers then, 'Look, it's our duty to defend the flag burners right to burn the flag. That's what makes our nation so unique, so incredible.' " When I asked him about the current mission, Sgt. James was very clear: "Personally for myself, my biggest hopes for this deployment to Afghanistan is that I come up to speed as a new Sergeant in the Infantry; that I go over there and do whatever missions that they give us no matter what they are; and that me, my team, my squad all come back safe." "We need to stand the Afghan Army up on it's own... I believe we can do that." Sgt. James is currently engaged. He and his fiance' had an engagement party just before he left. "We will have our wedding when I return."
Copyright, Scott Kesterson- 2006 |
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