Reprinted with permission of the Ocean Star
The closest most Americans will ever get to the war in Iraq is through the images on their television screens or the photographs printed in newspapers. But Point Pleasant resident Barry Gleeson, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves got an up close and personal experience of the war not once, but twice.
First Lt. Gleeson, 35, has been deployed to Iraq on
two separate occasions, once in the early stages of the war, and then again
a few years later.
His efforts to help his fellow troops did not end once 1st Lt. Gleeson
returned from Iraq. He also lends his time to the local Veterans of Foreign
Wars post in Point Pleasant Beach and also volunteers as a mentor for
individuals thinking about joining the Army.
And this is only what 1st Lt. Gleeson does here on American soil. While in Iraq, 1st Lt. Gleeson took part in programs that brought school supplies to Iraqi children, hygiene products and shoes to citizens of the war-torn country. Though he now lives in Point Pleasant with Michelle, his wife of nearly two years, 1st Lt. Gleeson grew up in Ohio, where he attended Ohio State University and received a bachelor’s degree in communications.
When he was 25 years old, 1st Lt. Gleeson moved to New
Jersey where he began working in sales — though this would not be his career
for long. In March 2003, 1st Lt. Gleeson enlisted in the Army Reserves,
going into the service as a transportation specialist. In December 2003, he
was deployed to Iraq, serving under the 874th Movement Control Team, based
out of Staten Island, N.Y. First Lt. Gleeson said it was no surprise to him
when he learned that his unit was going to be sent to Iraq. “Because of
9/11, I was pretty sure it was going to happen,” he said. “It wasn’t easy
[to enlist] and my parents weren’t too excited, but I felt that it was the
right move to make.”
In fact, 1st Lt. Gleeson, who has been awarded a Meritorious Service Medal,
two Army Commendation Medals and an Army Achievement Medal, said his move
into the military was inspired by one of his own family members, his
brother, Joe, who is a West Point graduate. “He is someone I’ve always
looked up to. I admire his integrity. I remember visiting him when he was at
West Point, so I’ve always been around him,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson of his
brother, who is nine years his senior.
After arriving in Iraq in 2003, 1st Lt. Gleeson and his fellow soldiers spent six months in the northern section of country known as Kurdistan. According to 1st Lt. Gleeson, the people of the region were actually very receptive to the American soldiers, something he attributed to the fact that they were assisted by U.S. troops during the first Gulf War when they were being targeted by Saddam Hussein. “They were really very friendly and welcoming,” remembered 1st Lt. Gleeson. It was during this time in Kurdistan when 1st Lt. Gleeson participated in Operation Iraqi Children, which brought much-needed supplies to the people of Iraq, supplies that were distributed by the American soldiers. According the program’s Web site, www.operationiraqichildren.org, it was founded to give concerned Americans a way to reach out to war-stricken Iraqi children and support American troops in their efforts to assist them. Since its inception, the program has delivered over 200,000 school supply kits to Iraq, along with more than 500,000 toys and thousands of Arabic-language books, shoes, blankets, backpacks and sports equipment, all of which have been distributed to Iraqi children by American troops. First Lt. Gleeson said he remembers bringing school supplies — which are often taken for granted by American youngsters — to school children of the region. “We would take day trips to the schools and hand out notebooks, pens and supplies that they rarely get to see,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson. “The kids were stunned. A notebook to them was amazing.” As part of “Operation Shoe,” the troops brought shoes of all shapes and sizes to those in need, and handed them out to the villagers. “There were all kinds of shoes, sneakers, flip-flops, and also some soccer balls and baseball bats,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson. The children were also given dental floss and tooth brushes, as well as a lesson on how to properly care for their teeth. Since 1st Lt. Gleeson and his fellow soldiers were among he first to arrive in the region, they were the ones who helped to establish Operation Iraqi Children in Kurdistan. “They really welcomed us with open arms. They would hug us and wave to us and bring us into their homes and give us lamb and rice,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson.
He did note though, that the warm reception he and his fellow troops received in Kurdistan was not the reception the Americans received throughout the country, especially in some of the larger cities. Along with Kurdistan, 1st Lt. Gleeson also spent time in the northern city of Balad, where there was more fighting occurring at the time. Though 1st Lt. Gleeson returned home from his first tour in 2004, he was not able to enjoy life in the States for too long, after being called back again in 2006. At the start of his second tour, he spent time in Tikrit, a city which, at the time, was strongly allied with Saddam Hussein. First Lt. Gleeson said he could see how the war had changed between the start of his first tour and his subsequent return. “We got mortared once in a while, but it was nothing like the first tour,” recalled 1st Lt. Gleeson. “When I went back, there was a lot more interaction between us and Iraqi citizens. We were training them to take over the day-to-day jobs.”
In 2007, 1st Lt. Gleeson was able to return to Point Pleasant, marrying Michelle, in October. “Missing your family and friends was the toughest part,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson of his time Mrs. Gleeson said she is very proud of the achievements her husband has made, both in the military and as a civilian. “I am very proud of him. He has done a lot to improve his Army career, which sometimes entails him not being here,” said Mrs. Gleeson. “He also helps out a lot in the community and charity-wise. He’s a good husband.”
Today, 1st Lt. Gleeson, who currently works at Fort
Dix as a training officer for soldiers waiting to be deployed, volunteers
his time to helping fellow veterans.
A member of the VFW Post 4715, which is located in Point Pleasant Beach,
since 2003, 1st Lt. Gleeson works with other locals in a variety of projects
for veterans.
One of these programs brings meals to the homes of disabled veterans,
providing them both nourishment and company. Though he is one of the
youngest members of the local VFW post, 1st Lt. Gleeson said he joined
because it is a place for like-minded individuals to volunteer together. “I
wanted to be able to hang out with people I can relate to. They are a great
group of guys,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson, who has served as a quartermaster for
the post. VFW member Vincent Castin said 1st Lt. Gleeson has been became
asset to the organization immediately after he joined.
“I think his credentials are amazing,” said Mr. Castin. “It’s not easy to
have to go over there, and then to go back is even more difficult, and I
think people should know that about our soldiers.”
Mr. Castin said 1st Lt. Gleeson is able to bring a new
perspective to the group, which he said contains many members who have
served in previous conflicts.
“Because he is a recent active member [of the military], he brings those
experiences to the table. He brings a more useful view of the conflict to a
very media-oriented war,” said Mr. Castin.
Along with the time spent working on VFW causes, 1st Lt. Gleeson takes part
in a program that allows for prospective Army recruits to contact him with
any questions or concerns they have before meeting with an official
recruiter.
The recruiting assistance program is something 1st Lt.
Gleeson has taken part in for the last six years.
“I was fortunate enough to have my brother Joe to talk to before I sat down
with the recruiter,” said 1st Lt. Gleeson. “A lot of the people I talk to
want to know what they will come in as, what kind of jobs they can so and
just general curiosity questions.”
