Suvs Suck in Combat: The Rebuilding of Iraq During a Raging Insurgency

It was an unbelievable mission - to rebuild Iraq while the U.S. military was fighting a raging insurgency. In 2004, the soldiers and civilians of the Gulf Region Division (GRD) answered the call to duty and began the largest and most complex reconstruction project ever undertaken by our nation. They made great personal sacrifices that few of their fellow Americans would dare endure. This book tells the rest of the inspiring story - much of which was ignored by the mainstream media as "not newsworthy" or reduced to mere sound bytes. In the face of imminent danger, the GRD team braved daily car bombs, rocket attacks, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and kidnappings to rebuild thousands of projects throughout a chaotic war zone. These projects spread throughout a hostile country included schools, hospitals, police stations, oil production, electrical power and water treatment plants. Despite the odds, GRD was able to complete its critical strategic mission, and its members were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. A few of the amazing stories include: - A massive car bomb on author's first day in Baghdad that leveled a nearby hotel. - High speed "Mad Max" drives through the streets of Baghdad in unarmored SUVs. - The dependence on security contractors who performed with great valor while protecting American civilians. - The perilous war waged on the reconstruction mission that was largely invisible to U.S. combat forces and the American public. - The accidental rescue of an American hostage. - Living and working in Saddam's great palaces. - How a Yahoo email message was used to send an urgent plea for help. - A daring rescue mission in the Tigris River that ended in tragic loss. - The parade of Congressional Delegations that diverted precious combat resources from the war effort. - The unbelievable (but true) story of how a Yahoo email account is used to send an urgent message to the author to "PLEASE SAVE US". About the Author: Kerry Kachejian is one of the nation's most qualified soldiers and engineers, having served in and supported reconstruction operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as relief operations during Hurricane Katrina. A 1982 graduate of the US Military Academy (West Point), Kachejian also holds a Master's Degree in Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces earning a second Master's Degree in National Resource Strategy. Kachejian has numerous military decorations, awards, and qualifications, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He was presented the Bronze de Fleury Medal by the Army Engineer Association and the Reserve Award for Leadership Excellence - a national award presented annually by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). He is Airborne and Ranger qualified. Kachejian recently retired from the Army Reserve, holding the rank of Colonel. He currently supports the U.S. defense industry. He has spoken at a number of major conferences and private events on topics, including the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Psychology of Terrorism, Contractors on the Battlefield, and Critical Infrastructure Protection. Kerry, a native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, lives with his wife Alice and three children near Springfield, Virginia.

Biographies & Memoirs

Kachejian, Kerry C.

Leaders & Notable People

Fortis

When I was twelve years old, life was simple. Every day, I rode my bicycle to the nearby convenience store in West Chester, Pennsylvania and picked up my bundle of newspapers. Six times a week, I would deliver forty-four copies of The Daily Local News. Each paper sold for a dime, earning me three cents. Every week I collected sixty cents per house, and for my diligent efforts, I made $1.32 per day, $7.92 per week. The paper route was a cash business. And though I wasn't sure what taxes were, I proudly paid them. Dental and healthcare were benefits not afforded to me. The money I made was deposited into an old coffee can because that was what I was taught to do--put it in a safe place. Life was good and in the years ahead I never imagined leaving my hometown to experience anything bigger or better. I didn't know that those years, in what seemed a far distant future, would become the beginning of an amazing journey. --Kerry Kachejian
When Kerry Kachejian was a young teen, an accident left his brother paralyzed, and parents faced with crushing debt. Times were hard for his family, but being accepted by the US Military Academy at West Point took care of college and there his life took an incredible turn that that has enabled him to travel to 60 countries and 45 states. Along the way, he has befriended hundreds of people and, through war and peace, experienced things he never thought possible. Such as: escorting American hostages returning home from Iran, serving on a State Funeral detail for General of the Army, Omar Bradley, witnessing the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, serving in two wars, signing the steel at the top of the new World Trade Center, racing Porsches on the track and Autobahn, exploring underground bunkers in Iraq, and meeting the President of the United States in China. He has parachuted from planes, passed the Army's grueling Ranger Course, become an expert in explosives, trained on the use of small nuclear weapons, survived truck bombs and rocket attacks, and once even stood in as part of a murder lineup. He served our nation in uniform for 34 years, earning two Masters Degrees, while simultaneously serving in the defense and intelligence industries with great organizations like GE Aerospace, DARPA, Raytheon, and Harris. In retrospect, he might have given Forrest Gump a run for his money. How could all of these incredible experiences happen to a paperboy? In the pages of this book, he will tell you how it all happened.

The Paperboy: The Best Entry Level Job in America

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Books by Kachejian, Kerry C.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kachejian, Kerry C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Suvs Suck in Combat: The Rebuilding of Iraq During a Raging Insurgency

Suvs Suck in Combat: The Rebuilding of Iraq During a Raging Insurgency

The Paperboy: The Best Entry Level Job in America