For the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Childhood and education in Athens, Tex.; decision to enlist in U.S. Army; family’s tradition of military service; basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga., including experiences in Ranger Indoctrination Program and injuries sustained in “jump school”; assignment to unit in Darmstadt, Germany; 2003 deployment to Iraq and performance of long-range surveillance missions; combat experiences in Karbala, Ramadi, and Al Asad; return to Germany; continuing struggles with injury from basic training, with Army health care system, and with substance abuse; treatment at Walter Reed Army Hospital; discharge from Army and return to Arlington, Tex.; opinions regarding benefits of military service and regarding women in the military.