Eight Years of War

​It was a little over twenty years ago on March 18, 2003.that the United States (U.S.) and coalition forces initiated the war on Iraq. The Iraq war consisted of two phases. The first phase occurred from March 2003 to April 2003. The U.S. and coalition forces invaded Iraq and rapidly defeated the Iraqi military and paramilitary forces. The second phase lasted from May 2003 until December 2011 The U.S. and coalition forces were tasked with restoring law and order. Unfortunately, it was exacerbated by insurgent attacks against the occupying forces, turning into guerrilla warfare. In November 2008, the new Iraqi parliament established a timetable for final withdrawal of U.S. forces. The last combat brigade withdrew from Iraq on August 18, 2010. Approximately 50,000 U.S. soldiers remained in Iraq to act as a transitional force. At the end of 2011, 39,000 soldiers departed the country of Iraq, ending eight years of war. Many men and women lost their lives or were severely disabled.
This week we salute Alan Potter. You may know Alan as the Doughnut guy. He joined the Army when he was seventeen years old. His first duty station was in Hawaii, where he met his wife, Faith.  Alan Potter was a young soldier when he was deployed to Iraq in 2004 to 2005. His second deployment to Iraq was from 2006 to 2008. Alan served six years. Both of his grandfathers were in the military. One grandfather was in the Navy and his other grandfather was in the Army, serving in the Korean War. Alan and Faith recently celebrated twenty years of marriage. They have two children, a boy, and a girl. Alan is deeply involved in Montana Warriors on the Water and is the adjutant for the America Legion Post #39.
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Dr. Irene Dickerson is a retired Army Colonel living her best life in Big Sky Country.