December 9, 2022: Jason Dickerson
Jason Dickerson was born and raised in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. His first job at a local hospital piqued his interest in medicine, and his passion to serve increased after the start of the Iraq War. Knowing that he wanted to work in the medical field and serve his country, Dickerson turned to the Army to provide him with experiences he hoped would help him determine his career direction. He enlisted in the Army the day of his high school senior prom.
Shortly after graduating high school, Dickerson completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Following basic training, he completed his specialized training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. During his first six weeks at Fort Sam Houston, he went through rigorous training to earn his EMT license, before beginning specialty training in combat casualty care. After completing training, he received orders for his first tour overseas in Germany.
At 19, Dickerson boarded the second flight he had ever taken, to Germany. He was stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria in Vilseck, where he spent three weeks training before deploying to Iraq. During his first tour in Iraq, he spent most of his time on the frontlines northeast of Baghdad. He spent 10 months supporting troops while the Army established itself in the area. At the end of his tour, his unit disbanded, and he was given the option to return state side to Kansas or remain in Europe. Wanting to travel more in Europe, he chose to stay, spending that summer training and traveling as much as possible before he deployed a second time to Iraq.
During his second tour, Dickerson’s unit was located near Ramadi, Iraq, and focused on setting up combat outposts and helping to control the insurgency. Most of his memories of that deployment involve the people he was surrounded by. The soldiers formed a strong bond by always having each other’s backs, caring for one another and becoming lifelong friends in the process.
In 2007, Dickerson competed his service and returned home to Oklahoma. He went to college, started his own business, got married and had a child. His service impacted him in many ways, from his meticulous attention to detail to the manner in which he carries himself and conducts his business. However, most importantly, it taught him the significance of being courteous because you never know what someone has been through.
We honor his service.
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Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Visit the Library of Congress website to learn more.
Writer: Jennifer Leibert
Editors: Cate Manning, Mary Brennan
Researcher: Christopher Rosenquist
Graphic Designer: Saul Leon
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