Major Joe Escandon served initially as the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment supply officer and then commander of Charlie Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 through January 2004. In this two-part interview, Escandon discuss the ongoing training they completed in addition to the predeployment training they received prior to making the movement over. Once in Kuwait they conducted additional training, planning and preparation for the mission. Initially they were tasked to take control of Baghdad International Airport; however their mission was changed to secure As Samawah and the bridges. Once 2/5 Marines relieved the battalion, they received additional missions in Habbaniyah and Fallujah before continuing on to Baghdad. Once the battalion arrived in Baghdad, they fell under the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and Escandon became the commander of Charlie Company. The company's area of operations was Gazaliyah and they conducted stability and counterinsurgency operations there. One of their major focuses was assisting the police to become trained and patrolling on the streets. Escandon also focused on locating insurgents, gathering intelligence and quality of life improvements for the local populace. As they started to be hit by IEDs within their sector, direct fire attacks become less frequent. In an attempt to provide safer travel outside the wire, the company would drive their light-skinned vehicles during the night, conduct dismounted patrols and sniper ambushes. Escandon discusses the living conditions and different communications options available to call back home. He also discusses the logistical support and interpreter support. In January, they closed down the FOB and moved to Balad where they conducted a handoff with their replacements prior to their movement out of theater. Escandon offers his lessons learned based on this deployment as well.

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