|
HOLDING FAST IN IRAQ - INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR CHRISTOPHER C. PRATHER, U.S. ARMY Submitted by Douglas Beaton, RVP South Central Region & Gloria MacLeod, Publicist
|
|
We all, whether directly involved or not, are continually faced with the media reinforced reality of the US involvement in Iraq. Politics aside, the active participation of our military forces us to accept daily reports of wounded or killed Americans as part of the price we must bear. Some of us are affected more than others, with relatives, friends and acquaintances directly in harm's way. Some of us are involved peripherally, knowing those who are affected. But most of us only watch and pray, hoping that the sacrifice is minimal and that all of our personnel come home intact. The following bio brings home the personality of the war as one of our own, Major Christopher Prather, is on the front line of involvement in the restructuring of Iraq. Major Christopher C. Prather, member of the Clan MacLeod Society, USA since May 2000, was transferred to Ft. Hood in Killeen, Texas last year, and transferred membership to the South Central Region at the Salado Games on November 10th, 2002. While checking in at the MacLeod tent, he enrolled new daughter Sarah, born on November 4th into the Clan MacLeod Society, and also agreed to become one of our coordinators. We believe that Sarah, joining at the ripe old age of 6 days old, is presently the youngest member (please confirm, Anne) in the USA. On February 13th, 2003 Chris notified us that he was going to be deployed for Iraqi duty and that he would try to stay in touch as best he could. Recently, Chris sent us an update, as his unit finally became e-friendly. The following emails offer a first-hand observation of the situation that our troops deal with on a daily basis. Personally, as a veteran, I am proud of all who serve, but Chris is something and someone special. After reading his e-letter, we are sure you will agree. I encourage all of our MacLeod members to support our military personnel and their families during this painful period. Chris, and all like him, need whatever enthusiastic communication we can offer. And with our illustrious MacLeod military history, it is truly in keeping with our family traditions. Hold Fast, Doug Beaton, RVP – South Central Region
|
| Excerpts of email from Chris dated August 28, 2003 |
| Hello MacLeods! Well, after 6 months we've finally managed to get some resemblence of net connectivity, so I'm sending along greetings. I'm currently serving just north of Tikrit at an airfield the Iraqis called Al Sahra, and has been renamed Camp Speicher since my brigade has occupied it. We moved in on the 22nd of April, and have been in the same (fortunately for us) location ever since. The convoy I led for our battalion up to this location in the early part of April was quite exciting, to say the least. I checked in at the last outpost just south of Baghdad, and was told "you will get an MP escort to the city limits. From there on, you are on your own. Good luck, it's Indian country up there." Alas, we were only fired upon a couple of times, so all things considered, it could have been much worse. Rest assured, the MacLeod tartan (for obvious reasons, the Harris... didn't want to point myself out TOO much with bright yellow) was flying proudly from one of my antennas as the pipes were blazing. My poor driver, originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, had to endure the pipes. By the end of the trip, he claimed to enjoy them. Karen has kept me well supplied with MacLeod and Highlander magazines, plenty of reading with books about Scotland, and even has visited the Wee Scot Shop in Salado to purchase all sorts of goodies...to include haggis. If folks around here in Iraq didn't think I was crazy before, what with pipes playing all the time, me assaulting others continuing to practice on the chanter, and all the tartan I have about my tent, the haggis certainly convinced them. I was very encouraged to read the Chief's words of encouragement in the last magazine for any MacLeods participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As the thrill of the regime change wears off and the mundane (and the last few months rather dangerous) task of stability begins to settle in, I pray such support and encouragement contines. I look forward to catching up with MacLeod news from the South Central region via this newsgroup. Sadly, it doesn't look like I'll be back to catch ANY games this season, and even more sadly we won't be back in time for the Salado gathering. :( Until the next bit of mail and news, God bless. |
| NOTE: After receiving the above email, we wanted to feature Chris and his story and asked him for more "biographical" information that we could share. The following is his story… |
| Excerpts of email from Chris dated September 11, 2003 |
| I am an
active duty soldier, and hold a Regular Army Commission in the rank
of Major. I am at Al Sahra Air Base (Army has renamed it Camp
Speicher, after the Air Force Pilot shot down in this area during
Desert Storm) in Tikrit, Iraq… assigned as the Executive Officer
of 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
(Mechanized). Besides the obvious of being second in command of the
battalion, I am responsible for personnel, logistics, aircraft and
ground vehicle maintenance, life support, general administration and
manage the battalion staff. On top of all these duties, I am a
UH-60L (Blackhawk) pilot. My battalion is a General Support Aviation
Battalion, which means we provide a plethora of aviation support to
the 4th Infantry Division covering everything from air assualt
operations in support of ground mechanized maneuver brigades (have
done several of these in capturing Iraqi High Value Targets), air
mobile operations, logistics and supply line flights, support to the
Division's General Officers and VIP support (we've flown the
Secretary of Defense, the Iraq Governor, Paul Bremer and Dan Rather,
to name a few). In short, we do it all. Early in the deployment when
the theater was immature, our unit was touted as "the only
reliable air and logistical support." Karen and I were married on December 15, 2001. So, we are still newlyweds! Sarah is our first and only child, born November 2002. I've got about 5 and a half years until retirement. We'll talk about civilian occupation then. :) I'm thinking about becoming a professional Talisker drinker, if there are any openings for that... My family hopped around while I was growing up. Ohio is my homestate, and hometown is Cuyahoga Falls. I graduated from Northwest High School (in Canal Fulton, Ohio)in 1985, Sandbacka Skolan (Swedish technical school as an exchange student) in 1986, Kent State University in 1990 (B.A. Anthropology, B.A. International Relations) and am but a thesis shy (working on it when Operation Iraqi Freedom came along and changed my plans) on a Master of Science, Organization Development and Human Resources from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Professional Development in Business and Education. Re: interests and hobbies… Well, I certainly love highland games and clan gatherings, when my work schedule allows such frivolous activities. :) I enjoy reading history (especially Scottish history), scientific journals and anthropological journals. I also enjoy playing around with my Jeep. Before Karen settled me down, I was an avid hunter and fisherman, I enjoyed backpacking and outdoor activities, and was an avid equestrian.. I sold my horse in August of 2002, knowing that when Sarah came along my precious little free time would be best spent with my family. I absolutely love to travel and explore (good old Scottish wanderlust there, probably). Which brings me to the point that really, when I get back from Iraq, my true interest and "hobbies" will center on spending time and traveling with my family. Re: daughter Sarah Ashley Prather being the youngest member of the Clan MacLeod Society… Well, at least we start them young and get them trained in the Highland ways properly, eh? ;) My McLeod connection, by the way, comes through my father's mother and my father's father's mother. My surname is of Welsh origin, which probably explains the early greying. :) I so much appreciate your kind words. Some of my Iraq accomplishments include leading the first 4ID convoy (other than the lead cavalry elements) from Kuwait and up to Tikrit, Iraq. My battalion's convoy was the first north of Baghdad, and it was a nail-biting event, to be sure. I've also managed aircraft maintenance in order to support a battalion flying hour that has been the highest for any aviation battalion in the Army. One of my main responsibilities is quality of life for the Battalion's soldiers, so I've crawled all around in Tikrit purchasing power generators, air conditioners, needed supplies, building materials, televisions, satellite dishes and equipment, and other goodies. Thank you, I certainly appreciate it.
Folks over here can use all the prayers and support we can get. The
enemy is elusive, wiley and obviously employing unconventional means
against us. We have to be ever diligent in a stressful enviornment,
so support from home means the world to us.
|
(click to enlarge)
"Prather with Iraqi Plane Tartan.JPG" : me by an Iraqi jet fighter at Al Sahra Air Base. The dusty looking bit right above the cockpit is not a smudge, it is one of the huge dust devils (that one in particular is far away, thankfully) that every so often make life interesting for us when we get caught up in them on the ground. It is from Iraqi equipment like this that I lead scavenging parties for (Scottish rieving tendancy?) items we could use. Off this aircraft, we took the fuel pods off, and use them as resevoirs to hold fuel for our generators. |
(click to enlarge)
"Prather Airplane Tail 2.JPG) : This is the same airplane, but at the tail end. Doesn't the tartan look very nice in the desert? The fly plaid was misbehaving, since it was a wee bit on the windy side when the photo was snapped this morning. |
(click to enlarge)
"Prather Mosque 1a.jpg" : Me in my "full battle rattle" in front of a mosque in Tikrit. Taken about a month ago, during one of the afore mentioned supply runs into Tikrit. Yes, we do seem a bit intimidating and heavily armed, but it must be working, since out of all the attacks that have occurred on a daily basis, our battalion has not been bothered. My theory is, if we look mean, the Sadam loyalists will go pick on someone else. I've also been known to have the pipes blaring in my vehicle, so perhaps the Iraqis think we are a bit on the crazy side, too (I know my soldiers think this of me). Sorry, no tartan in this photo, since I don't wear the fly plaid on a daily basis. If I could get away with it, I probably would... |