Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Michael Brian Daake Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 113th Engineer Battalion; Army National Guard
- Location of Service: Iraq
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/44668
When Michael Daake enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 in 1988, he had in mind the service's promise of aid for a college education. But he found opportunities within the Army and stayed, going to Officers Candidate School. He began serving in a National Guard unit in 1997 and they were deployed to Iraq in the third phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a liaison stationed in Mosul, he worked 15-hour days, with no time off between December 2004 and August 2005. Since returning from duty, he has taken pride in training other National Guard personnel, but he is also dismayed that the American public is not focused on the war and supporting the troops.
Michael Brian Daake Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayWhy he stayed in the Army rather than go to college. 00:01:27.0 - 00:01:46.3
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PlayDaily meeting, Battle Update Brief, reviewed and previewed action; part of it was Humor of the Day; a veteran and well loved Sergeant Major was the butt of an especially funny joke one day. 00:12:27.6 - 00:14:48.6
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PlayTypical day's routine; a run, a couple of meetings; bulk of it spent coordinating missions among various staffs through e mails; two late afternoon meetings; coordinating work continued into the evening; going on leave for two weeks and coming back to dealing with an entirely new brigade. 00:17:17.8 - 00:21:07.5
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PlayThe chances for being redeployed; working as a training officer for the National Guard. 00:23:05.5 - 00:24:31.3
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PlaySeeing big changes in the country in the one year he was there; mainstream U.S. media doesn't report on progress and positive stories. 00:29:06.2 - 00:30:41.9
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PlayChallenge of readjusting to stateside way of life; sense of urgency is missing. 00:32:25.4 - 00:34:12.7
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PlayNeed to stay on mission until it's complete; urges public to stay focused on the war and support the effort; accepts personal sacrifice as part of the job. 00:34:24.4 - 00:36:56.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Michael Brian Daake Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
- Daake, Michael Brian
- Ahmed, Ather
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Daake, Michael Brian
- - Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 113th Engineer Battalion; Army National Guard
- Location of Service: Iraq
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1988
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-03-17; 2006-03-23)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [17 items] -- Photograph (collected 2006-03-23)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 2006-03-23; 2006-03-23)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-03-17; 2007-05-29)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/44668
Cite as
- Michael Brian Daake Collection (AFC/2001/001/44668), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image