Chaplain (Major) Harry "Chip" Huey deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I and II. His first deployment was the chaplain of the 485th Corps Support Battalion (CSB), V Corps, in March 2003. The CSB, after several false starts between their kaserne in Germany and the airhead, flew to Kuwait to stage to cross the berm into Iraq with elements of the corps at Camp Virginia. Following the 3rd Infantry Division into Iraq, Huey and his assistant were very much on the go keeping up with the turmoil of constant detachment and return of the maintenance and transportation elements of the battalion. Attitudes of the soldiers in the logistics support area were often negative, especially after the realization that tour length would be a year. Huey detached from the CSB to return to Germany for reassignment in late July 2003, moving across Germany from Hanau to Vilseck and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Putting his recent experiences in OIF I to work, Huey reached out to the battalion chaplains of the engineer and artillery battalions as well as the brigade's headquarters company and its reconnaissance troop. Huey's lessons ranged from predeployment counseling of pregnant female soldiers, interaction with family readiness groups, the realities of medical evacuations, and the sad expectations of memorial services. In February 2004, the chaplain redeployed to Iraq as a brigade chaplain and a part of OIF II. 3rd Brigade relieved elements of the 4th Infantry Division in Diyala Province, north of Baghdad. Huey operated from the brigade tactical operations center, participating in the MDMP and able to keep an eye on the battle rhythm of subordinate units. Drawing on an able, mature chaplain's assistant, Huey's unit ministry team ranged the brigade's area of operations, keeping in touch with the battalion chaplains and the brigade's soldiers. A critical professional lesson from two OIF tours detailed by Huey included the necessity of chaplains to understand the military decision-making process and be a full member of the unit's staff.

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