Local Iraq war veteran weighs in on US airstrikes
By: Alexandra Cowley
The US military action in Iraq brings back a wave of emotions for veterans who served there. We spoke to a local combat medic who was among the last soldiers to return home when President Obama ended the war in Iraq in 2011.
25-year-old Jonathan Bermudez served in Iraq from 2010-2011.
“When I was over there I was taught a stuffed animal was a bomb, a dead carcass is a bomb, trash cans are bombs, broken down cars are bombs,” explained Bermudez.
He remembers his last mission before returning home, not knowing if he’d make it out alive.
“That mission lasted 10 days and we were getting hit 8 out of those 10 days. We were like, are we ever going to get home? That was the major worry for me and a lot of the other guys that were going back home,” he recalled.
Bermudez was a medic, caring for wounded soldiers. He was relieved when the US ended its involvement, but knew this day might come.
“I was glad that we were out, but there was a vacuum that was created. Because at the end of the day, when I was there politicians were still getting blown up, reporters were still getting blown up,” Bermudez said.
Four years later, he says he agrees with the US air strikes. Authorized by President Obama to protect our military in Northeastern Iraq.
Bermudez said, “Support what you can with aid whether it be ordinance or food. But for us to go back in with a full fledged war I don’t think he’s going to do it, and I wouldn’t support it.”
Senator Jack Reed confirmed the President’s promise of not putting any boots on the ground in Iraq.
“This is not going to be followed by the introduction of ground troops. This will be a way we hope to allow the Iraq’s to re–establish their military force and push back ISIS,” explained Senator Reed.
