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Thomas C.

Thomas C., Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, OIF 2004-2005, Sergeant, U.S. Army Reserves, OIF 2008 – 2009 We lived out in the middle of this town with the Iraqi police and the Iraqi army. We tried restoring the town and tried to give them like some sort of infrastructure with schools and water, streetlights and everything else. We were always trying to set up schools and all sorts of stuff like that, which kind of made me happy to know we were trying to fix their country, because it is like a Third World mess there. I felt bad for a lot of [the kids] that they lived in these like- and we were not supposed to be taking pictures of the inside of their houses but they do sleep on the floor and I am afraid that they don’t have enough food. This is for my friend Mark. I was with him when he got killed; he got shot right through the head. It bothered me quite a bit. He had a wife and three kids. I can’t stop feeling guilty about his death. All these people loved this guy. If it had been me, it would not have been such a big deal. This is an Iraqi policeman, and me hanging out with him. I was pen pals with him, but he stopped writing me. He stopped writing me, so I don’t know what happened. I am kind of worried about him because these are the guys who are constantly getting killed, hurt, and maimed. I have this traumatic brain injury thing, but it is hard to explain. I get headaches, I get dizzy, I throw up. Weird things I cannot remember that used to be kind of like muscle memory. Sometimes I look at jars. I forget; do I turn it left or right. I have to look at it sideways and think about it. When I am in the bathroom, I cannot figure out if I shampoo first or use soap, and then I cannot remember what I did. I have to make this routine for everything. One time they gave me 7 different medications and I had some kind of allergic reaction to them and all of my limbs swelled up, all my joints swelled up. I hobbled to primary care and they told me I had to go to the emergency room to wait there. I waited for hours. I ride my bike a lot. It helps clear my mind. This tattoo, my brother got it and I did it just to match him. I am really good friends with my little brother. We grew up together and have just been carrying on like little kids ever since.
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Thomas C., Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, OIF 2004-2005, Sergeant, U.S. Army Reserves, OIF 2008 – 2009


During Thomas’ deployments he developed strong bonds with the men he served with, both in his platoon and among his colleagues in the Iraqi police force. Post-deployment, he continues to struggle with many things including a Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress, but he maintains close bonds with his friends and family.

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Last updated: June 3, 2015