Miyoko Hikiji - All I Could Be

All I Could Be

My Story as a Woman Warrior in Iraq

All I Could Be

My Story as a Woman Warrior in Iraq

by Miyoko Hikiji

Chronology Books

Palisades, New York

Copyright 2013 by Miyoko Hikiji

LCCN:

ISBN: 9781933909523 (SC)

1933909528

ISBN: 9781933909868 (eBook)

193390951X

SAN: 850-5942

Hikiji, Miyoko.

All I could be : my story as a woman warrior in Iraq / by Miyoko Hikiji -- 1st ed. -- Palisades, NY : History Pub. Co., c2013.

p. ; cm.

ISBN: 978-1-933909-52-3 (hc) ; 1-933909-52-8 (sc 10-digit) ; 978-1-933909-86-8 (ebk.) ; 1-933909-51-X (ebk. 10-digit)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Women and the military--United States. 2. Iraq War, 2003-2011. 3. United States--Armed forces--Iraq. 4. United States--Politics and government--21st century.

I. Title. II. My story as a woman warrior in Iraq.

U21.75 .H55 2013 2013933038

355.0082--dc23 1304

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-without prior written permission from History Publishing Company.

Chronology Books

An imprint of:

History Publishing Company, LLC

Palisades, New York

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ABOVE ALL , THE ONLY O NE A bove all. Thank you, Almighty God, for always keeping me in the palm of Your hands and for the gift of writing. I pray this book fulfills its small part toward Your ultimate design.

Tom, thank you for believing alongside me in this book before the first word was even written. The elegant fountain pen, your first gift to me, was my companion as I typed this story. Its ink is being saved to pen ours. Thank you for choosing me as your forever love and never letting go.

My dear Gracie, the first time I saw your face I understood your namesake. You are growing into an amazing little girl and I could not be prouder to be your Mom. To baby Noelle, my heart grew twice its size the day you were born in order to love you as much as I love your sister. Your smile is the everyday joy that reminds me why I love motherhood. To James, I hope you find in this the heart of who I am. The only woman more proud of the intelligent, caring, and handsome young man youve grown into is your mother. Thank you for letting me share your life.

To my mother, I learned much more from you than I ever learned in a classroom. Your knowledge and passion for all things great inspired me to be like you. I hope Im getting there. Thank you for the greatest giftlifeand for giving so much of yourself so that I could fly. Dad, thank you for loving me unconditionally. It has been a rare gift to me in my life that I will always treasure. Never has anyone else always been happy to see me. That has filled me with a confidence and optimism I needed to work on this project on my worse days. I love you. To Janice, You have shown me the power, strength, endurance, and beauty of a soft voice. Your commitment to Christ has inspired me to continue seeking Him. Thank you for never giving up on me.

Chris-Ann, Brian, Lonnie, Lori, Vance, Carolyn, and Kathleen: I didnt get to pick my brothers and sisters, but Im glad that God that did choose each of you.

To Mrs. Kenney, as a student in your kindergarten class you challenged me to build my dreams in the clouds. I never forgot that. You were and are still an amazing teacher to me. Thank you for believing big things for such a little person. To Richard Rowe, thank you for extending to me at our first meeting the hospitality and favor deserved of a long time friend ... which Im sure we will be. Your energy inspires me. To Debra Landwehr Engle, sincere thanks for coaching me through the first edition of this manuscript. I am grateful for your kindness and insight. To Wendy Musgrave, thanks for giving visual life to my writing through your astute, intentional and beautiful design for the working book cover. It is delightful to be in the company of a woman that can laugh so much. To Stephanie Elizondo Griest, thank you for meticulously editing the manuscript and taking it to the next level. Your candid feedback helped me develop my story from told to well told. To Alastair Wanklyn, thank you for reading my manuscript in its infancy and validating its truth. Your generosity gave me the momentum I needed to press forward. Traveling mercies for you always, wherever you may be dispatched. To Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis, Col. Michael Gardner, Col. Paul Ladd and Col. Scott Ayres: thank you for reading chapters of the manuscript and adding your support to my story through your endorsements. I am grateful as a former enlisted soldier to have my experience validated by officers of excellence. To James Serpento, many thanks for generously giving your time to read the manuscript and for reminding me that I have nothing left to prove. To Steve Myers, over the past eight years, my work with The Peak Agency helped me to grow internally in ways unrevealed by the seconds I appear on television, but Im grateful for both. Thank you for your support.

Thank you Ben Easter for turning words into images through your amazing photography. Thank you also to makeup artist Mary-Kate Gales, graphic designer Eric Brockob and Michael Dommer for your assistance with the book cover photo shoot. A special thanks to Virginia Meriah Taylor; I pass the baton to capable hands. Run the race.

Thank you History Publishing Company, its authors that shared their knowledge with me, especially Carolyn Doyle Winter for her superb editing and Don Bracken, who shared my vision to immortalize my story on bound pages. I am grateful for your investment in me.

To J.L.B., I am grateful for the experiences of love, faith, and loyalty we shared while deployed. I am thankful that you shared a part of your journey with me. And to the women and men of the 2133rd Transportation Company, Iowa National Guard, that answered the call: I am proud to have served with you. You represented our homeland with honor. God Bless you.

F OREWORD

I N THE DECADE FOLLOWING THE 1991 P ERSIAN G ULF W AR the United Nations struggled to enforce the disarmament terms agreed upon by Iraq at the wars conclusion. Iraqs repeated expulsion of United Nations weapons inspectors heightened tension between Iraq and the United States. From August 1991 through March 2003 the UN passed eleven resolutions intended to force Iraqi compliance with disarmament terms.

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States altered national policy regarding Iraq. Iraq was identified as a target in the Global War on Terror as a result of collaboration with terrorist organizations and Iraqs ability to provide these groups with chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction. In addition, U. S. and British intelligence agencies concluded that Iraq possessed the preliminary components of a nuclear weapons program. Based on information from domestic and foreign intelligence services the U. S. Congress approved an invasion of Iraq on October 11, 2002.

In February 2003, dissatisfied with weapons inspection results, the U. S. presented the UN General Assembly evidence believed to indicate the presence of prohibited weapons programs in Iraq. When a February 24, 2003 attempt at a new UN resolution to authorize the use of military force in Iraq failed the U. S. prepared for war under the justification of enforcing Iraqs compliance in accord with prior UN resolutions. With troops already deployed globally as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and security missions elsewhere, the Department of Defense relied on Guard and Reserve components (to an extent not seen since World War II) for additional troop strength in preparation for the invasion and occupation of Iraq.