23 Profile Essay

Service and Survival
By Mateo Munoz

I had the opportunity to interview Jeff in his abode, a veteran who served two tours in Iraq. He served as a gunner on top of a Humvee, handling a 50-caliber machine gun, a role that earned him the nickname “Gunner Jackson.” Throughout our conversation, Jeff spoke with a calm and steady tone, recounting his military experiences and current life without much emotional emphasis. His reflections offered a glimpse into the life of a veteran who has seen and lived through intense combat situations but now finds himself adjusting to a quieter life back home.

Jeff first shared that his daily routine is relatively simple. “I wake up, play pool, go for a walk,” he said, describing the core of his activities. Jeff enjoys keeping busy with casual activities like watching TV and spending time with his dog. His daily life seems to provide a form of structure and normalcy that contrasts with the high-intensity environment he experienced during his time in Iraq.

However, despite the regularity of his current routine, Jeff mentioned that fireworks and sirens are triggers for his PTSD, causing occasional distress. When asked about his sleep, Jeff stated that he usually sleeps four to five hours per night. He indicated that this is enough for him, though he didn’t delve into whether this sleep pattern was affected by his mental health. He seemed content with the amount of rest he gets, offering no further comment on the subject.

At this point, the conversation turned toward Jeff’s time in Iraq, where he shared vivid stories of firefights, ambushes, and near-misses with roadside bombs. He recalled one particular instance when he and his team came under fire while retrieving a damaged vehicle. The memory was clear, and he provided specific details about the event, explaining how air support arrived just in time to assist his unit. Jeff’s role as a gunner was crucial in these moments, and he spoke about his position atop the Humvee. “They called me Gunner Jackson,” he said, “and any time they needed a gunner, I was always there.”

In addition, Jeff’s family relationships were touched upon briefly during the interview. He mentioned that he doesn’t see his family often but didn’t seem overly concerned about it. “They come around when they come around,” he said. Jeff also shared that he talks with a therapist at the VA but otherwise keeps most things to himself. When asked if he finds it difficult to talk to people who haven’t served, Jeff replied, “People that haven’t been there, they don’t understand,” without elaborating further on how this impacts his interactions with civilians.

Moreover, one of the key takeaways from the interview was Jeff’s perspective on public awareness regarding veterans’ mental health. He believes that public understanding has improved over the years. “It’s gotten better,” he stated, although he didn’t specify any particular changes he has observed. When asked whether his mental health has improved since his return from Iraq, Jeff said it has though he didn’t provide specific details about the steps or processes that contributed to this improvement.

Finally, as the interview came to a close, Jeff reflected on his service in Iraq. He recounted some of the intense moments he experienced, like the time his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb or when he narrowly escaped a mortar attack. His reflections, however, remained factual rather than personal. Jeff’s focus seemed to be on recounting the events as they happened, rather than reflecting on the emotional toll they may have taken. Overall, the interview painted a picture of a man who has lived through challenging circumstances and emerged on the other side. While Jeff’s account was straightforward, his experiences clearly speak to the resilience required of those who serve in combat roles. His story is one of service, survival, and the daily effort to move forward.

Work Cited
Jeff. Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2024