Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing James N. Nappier, Jr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Iraq War, 2003-2011; Cold War
- Branch of Service: Navy; Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14 (NMCB Seabees)
- Location of Service: Ramadi, Iraq
- Highest Rank: Petty Officer Second Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/43525
James Nappier's persistence and devotion to serving his country resulted in the improbable scenario of a man in his 40s with a grown child enlisting in--and being accepted by--the Navy's Seabees. By virtue of his six years in the Marines beginning when he had dropped out of high school, Nappier's real age was knocked down to just under the upper limit for eligibility. This was in 2000, when no one had any idea of military deployments to a war in the Middle East. In Iraq, Nappier kept volunteering for the most dangerous missions, figuring he was saving one younger man with young children from harm's way. Though still a firm believer in the military and the mission, Nappier does express serious misgivings about the armored protection and amount of ammunition he and his men were given, as well as leadership during an engagement which resulted in two fatalities in his unit.
Interview / Recording
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PlayHow he was contacted in 2000 by a Navy recruiter; he wound up enlisting in the Seabees; he was 41 years old and qualified by dint of his prior service in the Marines; what the Seabees do; he worked as equipment operator and mechanic; battalion was mobilized in 2004 to go to Iraq; volunteered for the Tactical Movement Team, doing convoys and convoy security. 00:41:35.0 - 00:47:47.5
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PlayNature of convoy escort work and other duties: transporting people and supplies; had two teams of escorts, the Blue and Gold, of six Humvees each; improvised to get better armor protection for their vehicles; they were sometimes short on ammunition; was determined not be captured alive, so he carried a grenade. 00:48:07.6 - 00:55:56.0
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PlayLosing two close friends when the unit was kept in a kill zone for 2 1/2 hours; they were ordered to hold their fire; they weren't allowed to take the bodies out of the area right away; he lost his hearing from an IED he had watched someone set up; when they got back to base, they were told not to talk about the incident; blames the lack of bullet-proof glass they were promised for one of the deaths; his convoy commander was replaced; Nappier hit during a mortar attack. 00:56:21.8 - 01:07:15.5
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PlayGetting treated for his wounds; not wanting to give up a letter from his wife which he had been holding when he was hit; a newspaper reporter wrote up a story with his name in it which appeared before his family knew of his injuries; his wife was never notified officially, nor was any other family in his unit except for the two men in killed in action; almost lost his leg; he had bones from a buddy imbedded in him. 01:07:57.5 - 01:14:49.0
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PlayWas told not to talk about IEDs to anyone, but is convinced that information is easily obtained on the Internet; their intelligence in country was outdated but when they went on line they were able to find up-to-date information; was dismayed when ordered to take the same route back to base every day and eventually went on line to find alternate routes. 01:16:07.0 - 01:18:21.0
About this Item
Title
- James N. Nappier, Jr. Collection
Names
- VA Medical Center
- Miller, Harold L.
- Nappier Jr., James N.
Home State
- Florida
Headings
- - Nappier Jr., James N.
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
- - Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Cold War
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Dates of Service: 1975-1979
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
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Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14 (NMCB Seabees)
- Location of Service: Ramadi, Iraq
- Highest Rank: Petty Officer Second Class
- Dates of Service: 2001-2005
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: MiniDV [2 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-04-03)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-04-03; 2007-05-29)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/43525
Cite as
- James N. Nappier, Jr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/43525), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video