Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
4:57 | LTC Garnet Derby was killed when a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle, also taking 3 other soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter. Brett Stroney recalls the incident and the memories of LTC Derby.
Brett Stroney was just a high schooler on the day of the 9/11 attacks. He recalls the sense of duty that led him to consider the United States Military Academy as America entered the Global War on Terror.
In 2008, Brett was en route to Kuwait where they would stage for their tour in Mosul, Iraq. He remembers the distinct feeling of unfamiliarity as he arrived in-country.
One of the memorable events in Iraq for Brett Stroney actually happened back home when President Barack Obama was elected.
The long hours often faced by servicemen and women weren’t just in the field, as Brett remembers a mission to apprehend a high value target that led to a full day’s worth of administrative work.
Coming home from Iraq was a memorable experience, and Brett describes how that has changed since.
After his platoon time had ended, Brett made a big move and opted to go for an assignment to Special Forces. He describes the process to even be selected and the sorts of highly experienced people that were also applying.
Brett Stroney spent about two years training to be a member of Special Forces, and now he was deploying to a new battlefield, Afghanistan. He explains some of the noticeable differences between the war there versus in Iraq.
Brett’s experience in Afghanistan was not one of little consequence. He remembers the higher stakes of their mission there.
Leadership is such an important part of being in Special Forces, but Brett recalls the high level of professionalism amongst the senior members.
Brett Stroney had an assignment to El Salvador to assist local forces in fighting back narcotics trafficking. This inter-agency work gave him a new appreciation for the DOD, as well as working closely with other countries and learning their culture. Things he learned in Iraq and Afghanistan gave him better insight into how to assist the Salvadorans in their efforts.
