In this November 2012 interview, CPT Shawn Patton, US Army, Air Defense Artillery (ADA); discusses his deployment to Iraq as an executive officer for Delta Company 2-44 ADA from 2005 through 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). CPT Patton recalls the day he found out he would be deploying and describes his pre-deployment training with learning a transportation mission despite his ADA background. He talks about his major responsibilities after arriving into country and details some of his missions in working alongside of the Marines. CPT Patton discusses some difficult challenges he faced with managing personnel and describes the logistical support he received in country. He talks about the mentorship he received from his battery commander and battalion commander and how that mentorship eased his deployment. He shares his deployment successes of how his team helped bring stability back into country and he discusses his reintegration post-deployment. CPT Patton closes his interview with a lesson learned, "Every single Soldier has a call to ambassadorship, whether he's in combat operations, stability or support operations, peacekeeping operations, he still has that responsibility to be an ambassador, not just to his service, but to his country."

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited