Craig M. Zimmerman's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center

Описание: We welcome your comments on this video at [email protected]
Catalog Number: VIS 201.0810
In this interview, Craig Zimmerman recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, retiring in 2005 as a Sergeant Major. He describes his background and growing up years and how his mother influenced his life after his father abandoned the family when Zimmerman was ten years old. He reflects on military training and the confidence it brings. He remembers arriving in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, finding out that the war was over before his medical unit could set up operations, and the bittersweet feelings of both relief that there were no casualties and regret that they were unable to do the jobs for which they were trained. He describes his time in Germany, deploying the Army's first Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the stories his German landlady told about her experiences during World War II when American troops helped her family after the British bombed nearby Wurzburg. He reflects on the difference between officer and enlisted ranks and his determination to mentor and support the enlisted men in his command. He describes his duties and schools, including becoming the first Registered Pulmonary Function Therapist and Registered Respiratory Therapist in the Army. He recalls the burn pits used in Desert Storm and their short and long term effects on soldiers' health. He remembers the "Highway of Death" and recalls the stories a restaurant owner in Kuwait City told him about finding severed human fingers in the restaurant freezer, left there by Iraqi forces who tortured the city's residents during their occupation. He remembers the burning oil fields and the time they spent cleaning Army vehicles before they could be returned to the United States. He describes some of the accidents that occurred when soldiers didn't follow safety protocols. In response to the interviewer's questions, he describes some of the awards, medals, and commendations he received, including the Audie Murphy Club and the Order of Military Medical Merit. He comments on the excellence of the women with whom he served and remembers an incident when a gay soldier was harassed during the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" period. He describes his first marriage and his family and reflects on his military service and how it has informed his life.