Abstract
This community oral history project was designed to capture the personal narratives of Army veterans from the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment (3-61 Cav) who deployed to Iraq from October 2006 to December 2007 and participated in the Surge Campaign. The project addresses a gap in Iraq War historiography by focusing on tactical level unit operations. Data was collected through eight in-depth interviews with seven 3-61 Cav veterans, along with consultation of supporting military records and secondary literature. These interviews provide firsthand insight into each soldier’s early military careers and experiences with 3-61 Cav during both home station training and in combat.
This oral history collection contributes to the Iraq War historical record by showing the unique social and structural dynamics among enlisted soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers in a frontline combat unit deployed to Baghdad during the height of the conflict. This project is a successful example of the feasibility of conducting a military unit-focused community oral history project.