Overwhelming sense of patriotism brings Soldier into Army

Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Spc. Jontel Watson a New Orleans, La., native, a 3rd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) combat medic, checks another Soldiers blood pressure in the Patrol Base Yusifiyah aid station June 15.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.29.2008

Story by Pfc. Christopher McKenna 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By Pvt. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – "I was 16 years old when 9/11 happened, and being the hot-blooded person that I am, I joined the Army on my 17th birthday," said Spc. Jontel Watson, a 3rd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment combat medic. "I graduated (from high school) early and went to basic training in 2002."

Watson, who was raised in a military family, planned to join the Army even before the events of 9/11.

"I was going to go to college and get a degree first," he said. "After I finished college, I was planning to come in as an officer, until 9/11 happened. For me it was the final nail in the coffin toward joining, I was going to do it right away."

Watson graduated from Basic Combat Training in Fort Benning, Ga., and received the Soldier of the Cycle award.

"I felt proud; I felt unstoppable," he said. "I had just gone through what people told me would be the most difficult place for basic and I came out on top."

Following basic training, Watson faced a major decision in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck. A native of New Orleans, the hurricane had an overwhelming effect on his family.

"I literally had nothing to go back to," Watson said. "My family was safe though. They left the city prior to the actual hurricane, when the mayor ordered (the) evacuation."

Following the devastating effect of Katrina, Watson, stationed in Korea at the time, was given the option of receiving a compassionate reassignment to be closer to his family.

"My family is proud," he said. "They refused to receive assistance from myself, the government or anybody; but as time's gone by, they have improved and are once again doing well."

He spent another year in Korea before receiving orders for reassignment to Fort Campbell. Shortly thereafter, his unit received orders to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"When we came on orders to deploy here, I expected the worst -- I was expecting some adventurous stuff," Watson said.

Stories told by service members who already served multiple deployments in Iraq cultivated Watson's expectations of what lay before him. Fortunately, conditions in the area have improved.

"I haven't had to work on one American Soldier during this deployment," Watson said. "I have, however, worked on a couple of gunshot wounds and stab wounds (on both locals and Iraqi Army Soldiers), things I have already seen before."

Overall, Watson feels that being deployed to this area of Iraq gives him a positive outlook on the future. He's decided to shoot for a college education when he leaves the military.

"I'm looking to pursue a degree in engineering, or maybe even journalism," he said.

• Date Taken: 06.29.2008
• Date Posted: 06.29.2008 12:07
• Story ID: 20983
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ