Resolve to Win

Core Participant: MAJ Carl Heerup

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 05:28 PM

by BlogMasters

I'm 51 years old.  I was commissioned a 2nd LT in the Regular Army Corps of Engineers in 1977, after graduating from UC Berkeley and its ROTC program.

After training, I was stationed in Germany from 1978 to 1981, where I was Platoon Leader, Company Executive officer, and Company Commander, in Co C, 78th Engineer Battalion.  I resigned my commission in 1981 and stayed in Germany, working for a German Contractor as a structural engineer.

In 1984, I returned to the US for graduate school, and to help defray the cost, I joined an Army Reserve unit, the 820th Engineer Battalion.  I served in that unit as Inteligence Officer, Company Commander, Quartermaster, and Executive Officer, until it was disbanded in 1992.  I then joined the 2nd Medical Brigade HQ as Brigade Engineer, where I served until retiring in 2003. 

I volunteered to serve in Iraq in 2006, as an Action Officer in the Strategic Effects Economics division of Multi-national Force Iraq and served as and Engineer on the Joint Reconstruction Operations Center coordinating and developing reconstruction efforts for greater Baghdad.

I live in Phoenix Arizona with my wife and family.

My personal motivations and insight;

 

"We never should have invaded Iraq!  I believed that at the time, and nothing has changed my mind.  That being said, we did.  Because we did, we have a legal and moral obligation to secure the Iraqi people until such time as its government can do so."

 

This, I believe, as strongly as I hold any belief.  Because I believe it, and because it is not a hollow, theoretical belief, I did not object when my beloved son and namesake enlisted in the Army Reserves and was tagged to go to Iraq as a Civil Affairs Specialist.  Yes, I was afraid for my son, but a man has got to do what a man has got to do, and the same holds true of a nation.

 

When I, a retired Army Reserve officer, learned that the Army was accepting volunteers from the Retired List to serve, I hesitated (but not for long) to sign up to go.  My wife, who then had a son in harm�s way, knew the depth of my convictions, and she did not hesitate to agree.  We both knew that I'd have to suspend my business, continuing to pay the overhead costs, but not taking in any money (I'm a self-employed engineer), but we had enough savings to tide us over.

 

We were very blessed, my son came home without physical injury and only minor mental issues.  I came home totally unscathed.  Many, many families have not been so fortunate.  But they did what they needed to do, as Americans.  We can be proud of them as representatives of ourselves.

 

There are well-meaning but sadly mistaken people who believe we've done enough for Iraq.  We haven�t, and we will not have done so until their government can protect them from the dark forces we unleashed by invading.  It wasn't President Bush, or the Congress, or Secretary Rumsfield who invaded Iraq, it was the government of the United States of America, my government.  I am responsible, and will do whatever I can to fulfill that responsibility.

 

I am resolved to win, please join me.

Meanwhile, my son-in-law, a medic in the Arizona National Guard, left my daughter and their new-born daughter to serve  in Afghanistan.

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Thursday, March 6, 2008 - Happy Birthday!!!!!

Annie was at our MBA networking meeting today and spoke about your efforts, commitment and especially your birthday!!!!! Thanks so much for your effort, continued support to the United States and our Armed forces!!!! Keep up the good work - there's more support than the media will EVER recognize!!!!!
char
Posted by Anonymous

Saturday, March 8, 2008 - hope youre doing well.

im proud of you dad! and i miss you!

love, laura.
Posted by Anonymous

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 820th Engineer Battalion, San Pablo, Calif

Sir;

Were you a member of the 820th Engineer Battalion, San Pablo, Calif ? I served two reserve years with them in the 80's

I'm putting together a family history book for my kids and was wondering if you had any pictures of the 820th patch.

Thank you Sir...

Bill Baker
Posted by usabaker