- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Michael Adam Schlitz
- Creator:
- Bruckner, William Joseph
Schlitz, Michael Adam, 1976- - Date of Original:
- 2015-05-08
- Subject:
- Iraq War, 2003-2011--Personal narratives, American
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 25th
United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st
United States. Army. Mountain Division, 10th
Brooke Army Medical Center
Operation Iraqi Freedom
4th Ranger Training
Phoenix Academy
IED (Improvised Explosive Device)
AT4 Missile Launcher
Operation Proper Exit - People:
- Henry, Lorne E., 1985-2007
Soukenka, Richard A., 1976-2007
Cadavero, Jonathan D., 1982-2007 - Location:
- Germany, Landstuhl, 49.4143311, 7.5722301
Iraq, Baghdad, 33.312806, 44.361488
Korea, 37.663998, 127.978458
Kuwait, 29.5, 47.75
United States, California, San Bernardino County, Fort Irwin, 35.26275, -116.68475
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Chattahoochee County, Fort Benning, 32.35237, -84.96882
United States, Illinois, Rock Island County, Moline, 41.5067, -90.51513
United States, New York, Jefferson County, Le Ray, Fort Drum
United States, Texas, Bexar County, San Antonio, 29.42412, -98.49363 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In this interview, Michael Schlitz recalls his experiences serving in Iraq with the United States Army. He describes in detail the rigors of Ranger training and expresses appreciation for the Army's training programs. He was sent to Korea to participate in surveillance and reconnaissance missions there. He describes watching the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the twin towers in New York City on a restaurant television set while on leave in Seoul with his wife. His unit was sent to Iraq and he describes how the Army worked to acclimate soldiers to the weather in the Middle East and how his unit trained to take over the responsibilities of their predecessors. He reflects on the attitude of the Iraqi people toward American forces and recalls incidents when local tribal leaders provided hot food and intelligence to his men. He describes in detail what happened on February 26, 2007, when the vehicle in which he was riding was hit by an IED. He describes his injuries and subsequent recovery including surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy, and other treatment. He recalls how his family and his Army brothers helped him recover emotionally. He comments on how his injuries made him feel as though he had lost his sense of purpose and how he regained that purpose by serving as a motivational speaker, working with injured veterans. He describes returning to Iraq with Operation Proper Exit, how that trip affected him.
Michael Schlitz served in the United States Army in Iraq.
Keywords: "Sunni Triangle," "Triangle of Death," "Route Maliboom," and "Route Primus." - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/331
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 1:19:20
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
