By Joe Vanden Acker
Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2006
While it is a departure from the content that Lawrence Today typically offers under the heading of “Sports,” we commend to your attention this story of a Lawrence athlete. — Ed.
Just as quickly as the shooting starts, it’s over. Bravo
Company has survived a close call, and luckily no one is wounded.
Sitting in an abandoned bus stop overlooking a polling place in northeast Iraq,
Specialist Kenny Hamm, ’07, counts his
blessings. Insurgents have attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades,
RPGs, but no direct hits have been scored.
“One of the rockets landed about 50 yards from where I was standing,” Hamm
says. “Luckily, we got through that night without anyone getting hurt.”
Hamm, a native of Mauston, Wisconsin, and a Lawrence University junior, spent
a year in harm’s way in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He returned home this
past October and rejoined classes at Lawrence in January.
He was unhurt and ready to resume the life of a normal college student, but
he won’t soon forget the friends he made or the lives he helped change
during a year overseas.
Hamm,
who wrestles at heavyweight for the Vikings, has been in the Wisconsin Army
National Guard since February 2001, joining when he was only 17. His unit,
Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry, became the first combat unit
from Wisconsin to be deployed since WW II when they went to Iraq in
late November 2004.
During his year in country, the 128th fought insurgents, helped rebuild the nation,
and attempted to connect with the people.
It didn’t take long to get their baptism of fire. The 128th had just arrived
in the Middle East and was in a convoy from Kuwait to their camp, Forward Operating
Base Cobra, located about 70 miles northeast of Baghdad, when they came under
attack.
A roadside bomb, known to soldiers as an improvised explosive device (IED), went
off. Fortunately, no one was wounded.
Hamm would be a prime target during his time in Iraq, because he had trained
extensively with the M-240 Bravo machine gun and the M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
With little
armor to protect
him, Hamm served as the turret gunner atop a Humvee.
“I would get real low in the turret I was sitting in and just pray that
[an IED]
wouldn’t go off while we were driving by,” he says.
“I’m just glad that I got through safe and all my buddies got through
safe.”
Hamm’s unit was stationed near Baqubah, an area that is mostly rural. Controlled
by the Kurds, the area is ethnically diverse, with a large number of Arabs.
“Part of our mission was trying to get the Arabs and Kurds to work together,” Hamm
says. “We were there to help enforce the Iraqi interim government’s
laws and combat the insurgency.”
The 128th did more than fight; they also built. Hamm says the soldiers tried
to help with the area’s infrastructure. It wasn’t unusual to see
farm animals using the same water source from which people were getting their
drinking water, he recalls.
“A big part of our project was drilling wells for these smaller towns and
helping
build water sanitation plants for the bigger ones,” he says, adding that
the unit also helped construct new schools and a medical clinic.
“Everybody hears about the combat operations but not about the humanitarian
work.”
The work of the 128th was closely tied to its working relationship with the Iraqi
people. Hamm estimates that 70 percent of the missions involved meeting with
local officials or members of the population.
“We had a lot of support among the Kurds,” Hamm says. “With
the Arabs, it was kind of touch and go. I think they respected the authority
of the interim
government even if they didn’t like the Americans.”
The children of Iraq drew special attention. Many packages arrived from the
United States, and the soldiers drew great joy in distributing them to the
children.
“The thing that was the most fulfilling for me was bringing shoes, toys,
school supplies, and clothing to the children,” he says.
“The kids are going to be the future of Iraq. We need to get them educated.
This period of new democracy is going to be formative and can make a bright future
for this part of the world.
“If we end up being successful, I would like to go back and visit some
of my friends over there to see how things turned out.”
The time at FOB Cobra was spent in three-week increments, Hamm says. One week
he would be on day missions, and the following week would involve night missions.
The third week was spent on guard duty, either at base entry points or in a
guard tower looking
at the endless tan backdrop of sand.
The 128th also worked closely with the Iraqi Army, which was being trained
by the Americans, and Hamm singles out the Iraqis who served as interpreters
for
the 128th and the Iraqi security forces for special praise. Because they work
with the American military, they are prime targets for the insurgents.
“You hear stories about interpreters getting shot, and those are true.
They are very brave. Our mission wouldn’t be possible without them,” he
says.
“[The Iraqi security forces] were doing the same job we were with a lot
less protection.”
The 2005 elections in Iraq also were a major focus for the 128th. With the
threat of violence at a high level, it was easy, Hamm says, to be concerned
about what
might happen. It was during the January 30, 2005, elections that Hamm’s
company came under attack.
“It goes by real quick,” he says. “I didn’t get scared
until afterward. It’s before and after that you get scared.
“We had a lot of close calls. I feel blessed that no one was hurt with
all the close calls we had.”
Only two men in the 128th were killed and only two members of Bravo Company
were wounded.
Word finally came in the fall of 2005 that the 128th was headed back to Wisconsin.
It was late October when they landed at Volk Field, and they received a hero’s
welcome.
“They put on a really nice homecoming for us,” says Hamm, noting
a parade in the hometown of the 128th, New Richmond.
“I ran off the plane and saw my parents and girlfriend. I gave them the
biggest hug. It was great seeing them after so long. You can’t describe
the feeling. You’re worrying about your life for so long. You get back,
and it’s
like a ton of bricks off your chest.”
Hamm’s parents still have a lot to worry about. Kenny’s sister,
Jill, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, is stationed in Fallujah.
“
I feel bad for my parents. They worried about me for a year, and a month and
a half after I get back, she goes over,” Hamm says.
Hamm admits that it is strange to be home. He feels as though he has changed,
but he takes comfort in the friendship of Phi Delta Theta fraternity brothers
and his wrestling teammates. He also thanks the university for all its help,
both when he left and in aiding his return to campus.
“
Things have changed a little bit,” Hamm says softly.
“
It was scary and I had some tense moments, but I don’t regret doing it
at all.”