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Interview with CPT Bill Meredith

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Captain Bill Meredith served as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) for 2-12 Cavalry, out of 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, for the majority of his deployment to Iraq from January 2004 until February 2005. He was located at Camp Victory and operated out of the town of Abu Ghraib. He and his unit provided security and conducted route patrols. Meredith's unit provided security for many of the projects that the attached civil affairs unit worked on, such a rebuilding schools. Meredith was surprised that many of the Iraqis were not more supportive of the American troops in their efforts against the insurgents. He stated that, "They didn't do anything to help us find them and bring them down as a whole." The biggest challenge faced according to Meredith was cultural. He stated that how he believes the population was most highly affected by their religious beliefs and the teachings of the imams. Since many Iraqi citizens were illiterate, they believed everything the imams said. "If [the imam] told you the sky was purple, then you would change your whole belief to the sky is purple. So I think that is one of the lynchpins we were unable to sort out." In an effort to overcome this cultural barrier, Meredith stated that his unit established "medical outreach teams for women and children." That said, he added, "It was frustrating because you were trying to do all the right things, but it seemed like no matter what you did somebody was waiting around the corner to blow you up." There was also the challenge of the cell phones and media in Iraq: messages got out very quickly that were often negative towards US troops, especially since this was the same time period of the Abu Ghraib scandal. The Iraqis blamed all US soldiers for the actions taken by a few. Meredith stressed that the most critical factor in preparing for this situation was to know your squad. That way, he said, you will know what to expect from each person and what he will do in any given situation.

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Captain Bill Meredith served as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) for 2-12 Cavalry, out of 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, for the majority of his deployment to Iraq from January 2004 until February 2005. He was located at Camp Victory and operated out of the town of Abu Ghraib. He and his unit provided security and conducted route patrols. Meredith's unit provided security for many of the projects that the attached civil affairs unit worked on, such a rebuilding schools. Meredith was surprised that many of the Iraqis were not more supportive of the American troops in their efforts against the insurgents. He stated that, "They didn't do anything to help us find them and bring them down as a whole." The biggest challenge faced according to Meredith was cultural.  He stated that how he believes the population was most highly affected by their religious beliefs and the teachings of the imams.  Since many Iraqi citizens were illiterate, they believed everything the imams said. "If [the imam] told you the sky was purple, then you would change your whole belief to the sky is purple. So I think that is one of the lynchpins we were unable to sort out." In an effort to overcome this cultural barrier, Meredith stated that his unit established "medical outreach teams for women and children."  That said, he added, "It was frustrating because you were trying to do all the right things, but it seemed like no matter what you did somebody was waiting around the corner to blow you up." There was also the challenge of the cell phones and media in Iraq: messages got out very quickly that were often negative towards US troops, especially since this was the same time period of the Abu Ghraib scandal.  The Iraqis blamed all US soldiers for the actions taken by a few. Meredith stressed that the most critical factor in preparing for this situation was to know your squad. That way, he said, you will know what to expect from each person and what he will do in any given situation.

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