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Mars Hill Student Returns From Iraq
by Lesli Frazier
Sgt. Hilterbrand at work
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Mars Hill Sophomore Charity Hilterbrand is a trained diesel mechanic for the Army Reserves. She works on Humvees, deuce-and-a-halves and LMTVs. "Anything with wheels I can work on," Charity says.
While in Iraq, though, Charity discovered that most of the men in her motor pool were reluctant to let her work on the big things. "They only wanted me to work on windshield wipers!
| Military Jargon |
Deuce-and-a-half = 2 1/2-ton cargo truck
LMTV=Light Medium Tactical Vehicle -- a newer-style 2 ½-ton cargo truck
IEDs = Improvised Explosive Devices
PT= physical training
Haji Shop=shop set up by Iraqi locals
E6= staff sergeant
63 Bravo=light-wheel vehicle mechanic
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"It was a struggle all year long to prove to the men that I could do the same job as they could," Charity said.
Charity started Mars Hill College as a freshman in the fall of 2003. She was called to Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the next spring and was deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2004. She returned to the U.S. in the winter of 2006 and began another year at Mars Hill this fall.
The events of 9-11 prompted her to join the Army Reserves during her senior year of high school. "I wanted to be GI Jane." She never expected to actually be deployed. "I never thought I'd be going back either." After less than a year at home, she has learned that she might have to go back to Iraq as early as March.
View from Camp Liberty, Iraq
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Charity was assigned to Camp Liberty Iraq in Baghdad for her tour of duty. It was one of the safer camps, only being hit eight or nine times during her stay. The most dangerous times were when she had to fill in for someone on the convoy team.
During one of her convoy missions, while she was driving, they were attacked. "We got hit with IEDs and small arms fire, and we had to escape. I saw this little boy…and he was like, "Come on! Come on!" He was encouraging the troops.
From that experience she realized that despite the attack, there are civilians who "want us there so bad because we're helping them."
Charity received a Combat Action Badge for driving during the attack that day.
A typical day in Iraq for Charity would consist of waking up, doing PT, and spending the day working at the motor pool. During free time she would visit "Haji Shops," which are run by the locals and sell everything from cigarettes to pirated DVDs. For most of the year she was actually able to live in a trailer, a relative luxury since most people in the camp lived in tents. Showers and bathrooms were within walking distance, but once you were clean, you would inevitably get dirty again from the walk back across the desert to where you were staying.
The worst part of camp life in Iraq was not being able to leave. She gave this example. Imagine being at Mars Hill College. You have all of your food and supplies and even TV, but you can't leave the campus for a year. "People get bored, say a lot of hurtful things…. It will drive you crazy if you don't have somebody to talk to."
Returning home from Iraq was harder than she thought it would be. Charity explained that because you miss home so much when you're in Iraq, you hype up home to be something it's not.
Some people will come up to her and ask, "'How many ragheads did you kill?' and my blood will just boil… Since being in Iraq, "I feel better towards the Iraqi people… the ones that aren't trying to kill us."
Charity giving TLC to an LMTV
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But there are some people who really appreciate what the military is doing over in Iraq. One time Charity and her mother went out to eat. "I got excited about the military discount at this place… My mom told this one lady, "She's excited! She just got back from Iraq!" When we went up to pay, the lady that my mom had talked to had already paid for our dinner. That was the nicest thing anybody did."
Upon her return to school Charity found out that a liberal arts college is nothing like the Army Reserves. In the army, she said, they repeat everything 20 times, so you can just listen to the last few seconds and know what you're supposed to do. "The army doesn't teach you to think for yourself."
Charity's future plans include another tour in Iraq. She is not worried this time about being discriminated against in the motor pool because, "Now I'm a sergeant and there's no way I'll put up with that again." A future career in the army is possible since she already has enough points to become an E6 -- staff sergeant -- which is really good for her age and how long she's been in the Army.
"The army isn't for everyone." Charity said. "It takes a different type of person."
Reader Comment:
Cindy Whitt, staff, 10/10/2006, 9:34 a.m.
Great article Lesli. Charity, thank you for your willingness to serve our country.
John Frazier, parent, 10/10/2006, 7:09 p.m.
WHORAH!!!! Charity. I sure admire you for the contribution you're making, and at such a young age. Lesli, I also admire the ability you've demonstrated to prepare a wonderful article. Thanks to both of you. -Pops
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