Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Krystyna R. Kalski Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 933rd Military Police Company
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Specialist
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/24407
Specialist Krystyna R. Kalski joined the Army National Guard in October 2001, even after her father told her that the Army was inappropriate for women. Motivated by a sense of pride and honor in serving and by the military's educational benefits, Kalski was unaware of just how quickly she would be deployed to Iraq after her initial Military Police training. Using colorful language, Kalski describes her every day life as a soldier, going on missions and making quick decisions, her equipment and uniform, the basic necessities she missed, and the toll deployment takes on soldiers.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayJob assignments in Iraq: securing communication lines, convoys taking supplies north to the troops, providing security for battalion commanders. 00:05:40.3 - 00:08:26.8
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PlayPreparing to return home after one-year deployment: leaving Iraq for Kuwait, washing trucks, packing bags and equipment, general excitement; getting extended another six months, having to unpack and return to Iraq. 00:08:27.2 - 00:09:30.0
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PlayCasualties of war: arriving first on the scene of a flipped Humvee that had been chasing a suspicious vehicle, gunner killed instantly and driver seriously injured; memory bracelets. 00:18:22.6 - 00:22:04.2
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PlayIraqis sabotaging military vehicles; Iraqi ingenuity at getting food; truck load of holiday pies; keeping the convoys moving. 00:25:37.6 - 00:27:47.5
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PlayMissing both the basic necessities of life and being able to do what she wanted while deployed. 00:41:49.8 - 00:42:37.4
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PlayDifficulties of communicating with loved ones back home: few and broken phones, bad Internet and phone connections, waiting in long lines, use of satellites; better to buy expensive cell phones; writing letters every week. 00:55:41.8 - 00:57:16.7
About this Item
Title
- Krystyna R. Kalski Collection
Names
- William Ogden Elementary School
- Garcia, Mario R.
- Kevin Lee
- Kalski, Krystyna R.
- Chojnowski, Marcin
Home State
- Illinois
Headings
- - Kalski, Krystyna R.
- - Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- Other
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 933rd Military Police Company
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Specialist
- Dates of Service: 2001
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2004-10-31)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2004-10-31; 2007-07-07)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-10-31)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/24407
Cite as
- Krystyna R. Kalski Collection (AFC/2001/001/24407), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video