I was originally a supply clerk and in Jan. 03 was activated and my unit all had our MOS changed to Mortuary Affairs. I did not serve in Iraq as I was training in NC when the rest of my unit was sent over-because we were activated without orders most of my unit was split up.

When I realized I was not going I started questioning the integrity of "unit cohesiveness" and other rhetoric, but when my friends came back and I began hearing of what they did and saw-and then how it affected them-I began to question what exactly the marine corps meant by troop welfare. Leaving them out to dry left a bad taste in my mouth, not to mention the extreme guilt and anger I had for not serving with them. That still affects me today-although as my views on the war have changed I have been able to deal with these feelings more constructively.

I graduated from college and went into the IRR in 2004. I was discharged in 2006. Since then I have had several jobs-but mostly working in leadership development for undergraduates. I have worked at Kennesaw State University in the Center for Student Leadership, and now at Delta Tau Delta as the director of leadership development. My degree is in fine arts; specializing in drawing and painting. I prefer to draw and continue to work on my own projects.