Thomas Rice interview by Elizabeth Harkson, 2013

Interview with Thomas Rice US Army, 2005 - 2011; served with: 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, 1st of the 23rd Infantry Regiment (1/23 IF) Apache Company, 2nd Platoon. Served during: Operation Together Forward, Operation Arrowhead Ripper, Haita Street[?], Shula[?]; served in Baghdad, Baqubah/Diyala Province

Topics covered: Family background; why the Army; basic training; Army life; Deployment - Daghdad, Northern Iraq; Adaptation to life in combat zone; Linear description of some operations; Details of more happenings in Iraq - combat, friendships formed; Emotional affect of combat; Metting wife; "Special duties" and recreation while deployed; Coming home - adapting to civilian life, involvement with veterans groups; What the military made possible for him/lessons learned. Current life - family, job, future

0:32 When/where he was born and family background 1:10 What he did before the military 1:26 What made him decide to join the military (money) 2:33 Why he chose the Army (high school drop-out) 2:51 Departing for basic training 3:08 Discusses adaption to basic training / military life 4:08 Social life in basic training 4:33 Mentions period of time between basic training and deployment (Ft Lewis) 5:44 Locations of deployment (Baghdad & North Central Iraq 6:14 Discusses adaption to culture and typical schedule 8:27 Gives linear decription of combat: 9:40 - Hurriya City / Mahdi Army / Shiias 13:14 - Worked thier way in a circle around Baghdad 14:07 - Iraqi police gets into fight and US Army gets shot at; Police Officer gets fired 15:58 - Northern Iraq - Fighting the Al Qaeda (Financial District of Baghdad) 19:23 - discusses how the Iraqi army does not fight at night and how one of them missed a shot and knocked a wall down 20:45 Mentions how Iraqi people know the sound of American jets and hate it 20:55 Al-Shu'ala - lost 5 trucks of soldiers 24:10 Citizens appeal to Iraqi governer to ask for time to bury all thier dead before patrolled 25:00 Discusses being shot at from a Mosk & conflict 28:05 How the conflict affected him mentally/emotionally 29:25 Drinking to cope with memories/emotions 29:57 How he met his wife 30:16 Discusses "special duties" overseas 31:30 Friendships formed and keeping up with them 32:19 Recreational activities during deployment 33:38 When/why he was able to come home 34:49 Homecoming/adaption to old life 39:08 Involvement in veteran events / tasks 39:30 Discusses what the military made possible for him 40:39 Wartime experience impact / lessons learned 44:16 Current family life / occupation / future plans