Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Mark S. Kirk Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Afghan War, 2001-; Kosovo, 1999
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: VAQ-209 (Electronic Attack Squadron); Military Joint Intelligence Center
- Location of Service: Afghanistan; Arlington, Virginia; Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
- Highest Rank: Commander
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/38582
Working in politics on Capitol Hill, Commander Mark S. Kirk realized that he couldn't effectively advise on military matters without personal experience--so he volunteered for a direct commission in the Navy. This decision led to a dual career as both a politician and an intelligence officer, and eventually, as an air crewman flying missions in Iraq aboard a Prowler aircraft. Of his military service as a whole, he comments that it meant a "fundamental transformation of life," and explains that all veterans, no matter the conflict or time period in which they served, are set apart by the way in which they have taken on the success and safety of the United States as their own personal responsibility.
Interview / Recording
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PlayDeciding he needed personal experience with the military; service with the Office of Naval Intelligence; detailed to the CIA; then served as a watch officer for the Navy Desk at the Pentagon. 00:01:45.5 - 00:04:05.6
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PlayService during invasion of Haiti; working in the office of Chief Naval Operations as a senior forces analyst for the Pentagon; providing intelligence information on Haitian military. 00:09:55.1 - 00:11:55.1
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PlayGetting called up from Naval Reserves for combat in war in Kosovo; assigned to a Navy squadron flying EA-6B Prowler aircrafts; deployed to a military base in Italy; living conditions; combat operations against Yugoslav forces. 00:16:54.4 - 00:20:42.9
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PlayFlying as an air crewman on the Prowler aircraft; motion sickness; mistaking flak for weather; realizing inherent danger of operations. 00:22:27.0 - 00:24:08.5
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PlayHow military service changes a person; emotional commitment of service; difference in morale between military made up of draftees and the all-volunteer force; interconnectedness enabled by email and today's technology. 00:27:58.4 - 00:31:31.0
About this Item
Title
- Mark S. Kirk Collection
Names
- Kirk, Mark S.
- Library of Congress
- Veterans History Project
- Williams, Brien R.
Home State
- Illinois
Headings
- - Kirk, Mark S.
- - Kosovo, 1999 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
- - Afghan War, 2001- -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Kosovo, 1999
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: VAQ-209 (Electronic Attack Squadron); Military Joint Intelligence Center
- Location of Service: Arlington, Virginia; Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
- Highest Rank: Commander
- Dates of Service: 1989
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
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Afghan War, 2001-
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Location of Service: Afghanistan
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-05-03)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-05-03; 2006-05-03)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/38582
Cite as
- Mark S. Kirk Collection (AFC/2001/001/38582), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Afghanistan
- Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
- Arlington, Virginia
- Aviano Air Base, Italy
- Incirlik Air Base, Turkey