The Price Of Freedom
From 3/25 Akron, Ohio to 2/25 Garden City, New York. A Nigerian American Account of Operation Iraq Freedom
by
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Why must I write? It is not for selfish purposes nor for self-aggrandizement rather I owe a debt to my friends, whose voices need to be heard and stories be told, lest their heroism and memories be forgotten. Moreover, their noble efforts would have been in vain, if I would remain silent for a great service they have paid home and country. All have stepped up to the plate. Some have given all and have paid the ultimate price. Others, in an extraordinary way, have exhibited the qualities of great leaders.
Just like every other day, on June 9th the sun rose from the East. Earlier in the evening, my best friend Tom and I had a heated exchange, before he left the wire, which was our camp. “What kind of friend are you, anyway? I heard it through grapevine.” Tom had overheard a buddy say, that I later was getting married in Dec. of 2005.
“I am not even sure that it will be held in December. I simply was thinking out loud.”
“Whatever.” He flippantly dismissed my excuse as weak with a wave of his hand.
“What the hell got under his crawl?” I thought.
“Fuck this shit!” Tom spouted, “These Humvees are fucked up; they can’t take the IED blasts at all. Look at what that shit did to the tanks the other day”
Tom was worried about how the roads in our area of operation (AO) excessively have been planted with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), and he was not the only one gravely concerned. A Pressure Plate IED had just split a tank in half, killing more than a dozen Marines in it. His Mobile Assault Platoon (MAP) was no stranger to IED attacks and he was cognizant of the risks. But, the latest incident had zapped his jovial spirit.
Memories of past missions weighed heavily. His MAP earlier had hit an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). The IED flipped the Humvee over. The tallest Marine in the company had been left pinned down for hours. The blast also had wounded the gunner.
At this moment Tom took a dramatic pause, his face sobered. One Marine in his Mobile Assault Platoon (MAP) was in Al Asad to see a shrink. A few days earlier, he literally broke down before his MAP. But the sight and feel of combat had reduced him. Our hearts went out to our buddy, nobody knows…. That Marine, a paragon of motivation and courage for us all, was uncomfortable leaving the wire.
“I am the driver. I got to prep. Best get going.” Tom looked at his watch and sped up the tempo. Just like any Marine would, he geared up and got rolling. He didn’t want to get chewed out for being late. It was one hour before mission.
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About the Book
The Price of Freedom, which is part one honorable Marine/Veteran’s memoir of a riveting wartime experience in Iraq and other part political commentary, offers a clarion call to freedom loving people in the world, in particular Americans, Iraqis and Nigerians. With candor The Price of Freedom sheds light on the Superman myth of the U.S. Marine, and why for some in the armed services it has become awkward to open up and share battle scars.
Kingsley Uzukwu, has crafted a powerful cathartic work, which honors fallen soldiers and promises to be balm for some loved ones, for others an unleash of salty tears and yet for another an aha moment or even still a battle cry. He offers an authentic voice, crying in the wilderness. He speaks in plain terms of how Iraqi Freedom has impacted us all to become “casualties,” He paints with broad strokes the tender lives of World Trade Center casualties, the uncensored lives of Marines and delicate blossoms of friendship and love. He weaves an unforgettable account, sometimes hauntingly eerie. He fittingly portrays Marines as responsible leaders and salutes his Marine comrades in penning The Price of Freedom. He showcases the full complement/leadership skill set, including intelligence, communication, technology, decision making and problem solving in tactical environments, possessed by Marines. With surgical precision he describes our troops and their rigorous training to adhere to appropriate rule of engagement and escalation of force.
About the Author
Kingsley Uzukwu is the middle child of Nze and Lolo Sebastine N. Uzukwu. His parents valued discipline, integrity, hard work, and the dividends of quality education. They shouldered the high tuition and living expenses for his parochial education in Nigeria.
Early influences in his life included the church. He had the privilege of attending private schools from kindergarten to college in Nigeria. His educational journey began at the Library Venue Umuahia, followed by University Primary School Etiti. Upon graduating top of the class, that paved the way to being admitted in to St. Peters’ Seminary Okigwe under the mentorship and leadership of Monsignor Luke Ilonu. There he got his Diploma in Latin and his high school certificate.
Kingsley Uzukwu migrated to the United States. His educational journey started at Cuyahoga Community College. He graduated top one percent of his class and continued to Youngstown States University on a full time scholarship. He is a Scholar, Honor Graduate, has a double Major in Political Science and Philosophy and graduated 'Summa Cum Laude" at YSU. As a United States Marine, he graduated from Paris Island and Mastered in his military occupation at Camp Le Jeune North Carolina. Kingsley Uzukwu served twice in "Operation Iraq Freedom" He took many billets while in Iraq and through his knowledge of Arabic served as Interpreter for his Unit in Iraq. As a Highly Decorated Honorable Veteran, Kingsley Uzukwu through his experiences at the Model United Nation Organization hopes to be part of an International solution seeking effort in helping troubled and poverty ravaged Nations especially Africa. As a father, Kingsley Uzukwu hopes that the world he leaves for his children, loved ones and children of this generation and future generation will be a peaceful world free of terror.