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An up close and personal interview with Army Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
SFC Mountain Robicheau (US Army 1997-Present)
WHAT PERSUADED YOU TO JOIN THE SERVICE?
 I was born and raised in a small town on the coast of Maine. Both of my Grandfathers served in the Army in World War II and the Korea. My father, on the other hand, dodged the draft during the Vietnam War. Needless to say he was less than thrilled that I wanted to serve in the military. Truth be told, it was the movie Platoon that inspired me to serve. I had watched it when I was young and I wondered if I had what it takes to endure the hardship and sacrifice depicted in that movie. I had barely graduated, and didn’t even take the SAT’s, but I knew that college wasn’t really an option for me which solidified my desire to serve. So during the summer before my senior year in high school I went to the Army recruiting station. I walked right up the recruiter and said, “I want to be in the Infantry and leave on the first thing smoking.” Unfortunately for me I was only 17 years old and had not graduated yet. He told me if I could get my parents to sign for me, then I could be entered into the delayed entry program. It took a lot of convincing by my mother to get my father to come down to the recruiting station. When they got there he did not shake the recruiter’s hand, and even walked out after my mother signed. He eventually signed and I was that much closer to achieving my dream.
BRIEFLY, WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER PATH IN THE SERVICE?
I entered the United States Army’s DEP on July 25th, 1996. On June 19th, 1997, I was sworn in to Active Duty as an Infantryman and stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia for Infantry BCT and AIT. My first assignment was to A Co, 2-8th IN, 2nd BDE, 4th ID at Fort Hood, Texas. From October 1997 till May 2000, I had served in the following positions: Rifleman, Grenadier, SAW Gunner, Anti-Armor Specialist, RTO, M113 Driver, and the company’s NCSO. During my time with the 4ID I conducted 2 rotations to NTC at Fort Irwin, California and 1 Foal Eagle rotation to the Republic of South Korea. My second assignment was the United Nations Command Honor Guard at Camp Yong San, Republic of South Korea. From May 2000 till June 2001, I served as a Security Specialist and Team Leader. I was part of a guard force responsible for the security of the UNC CINC, GEN Thomas A. Schwartz. I then transitioned from Active Duty in to the Army Reserves. From August 2001 till June 2002 I was assigned to A Co, 2-385 IN, 1BDE, 98DIV. At CPT J Hardwood Reserve Center in Providence, Rhode Island. During that time I trained to be a Drill Sergeant. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, I chose to return to Active Duty. Upon reentering active service in June 2002, I was assigned to B Co, 3-15th IN, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Shortly after arriving to the unit, we were put on orders for an Intrinsic Action rotation in Kuwait from October 2002 till February 2003. Where I served as a Team Leader. In March 2003 I led my team in to Iraq as part of the invasion force. I did another tour in Iraq as a Squad Leader in the Battalion Commander’s Personal Security Detachment. After redeployment back to the states, the Battalion was re-flagged to 1-30th IN. I then went on my 3rd tour to Iraq as a Platoon Sergeant with A Co. My next assignment was to C Co, 1-314th IN, 174th BDE, 1st Army East, Fort Drum, New York, where I am currently serving as an Observer/Controller-Trainer. I train National Guard and Reservists for their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS?
 Yes, I did 3 tours in Iraq from 2003 to 2008. The four qualifying phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom are:
Liberation of Iraq (March 19, 2003-May 1, 2003); Transition of Iraq (May 2, 2003-June 28, 2004); Iraqi Governance (June 29, 2004-Dec. 15, 2005); and National Resolution (Dec. 16, 2005-TBD). I have all 4 campaign stars for Iraq. In which I had served as an Infantry Team Leader, Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant. I have been awarded 2 Bronze Stars for Valor, as well as 1 Bronze Star for service. I addition I have been awarded 3 Purple Hearts. Combat was everything I expected it to be and more. I take great pride in my service to my country.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
There are so many moments that will forever be in my mind. But if I had to pick just one it would be the last time I was wounded March 30th, 2008. My Platoon was in Sadr City, a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. We were part of a Joint Task Force conducting operations within the city. My Bradley Fighting Vehicle was struck by an Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP). It wounded me and 6 others. Normally that would be a catastrophic hit, but we all survived. We were evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. The doctors, nurses, and staff were more than kind and professional. I have them to thank for my speedy recovery.
DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULARLY FUNNY STORY FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
Something funny always seems to be happening so it's hard to point to a particular story, but one that does come to mind was during a recent deployment to Iraq. It was on Day 1 in Baghdad, about the middle of the day and we were involved in a fairly heavy fight. The whole unit had previously run out of cigarettes, no one had any, and I looked down and saw that one of my Rifleman had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. My first though was "what the hell are you doing" then it occurred to me to ask where he got the cigarette. He had found them during the fight, they were previously property of the enemy, so we passed them around and everyone was able to have a smoke.
Later that same day we were in a 1/2 circle defensive perimeter, in the middle some fairly intense fighting, when one of my 240 Gunners tapped me on the boot and tells me he has to take a dump. I looked at him and asked what he wanted me to do about, call time-out so he could have potty break? I told him to do what he had to do but be quick about it. So he did, right there in the middle of our defensive circle, prone position and all, he answered natures call in what could be referred to as a creative technique. If nothing else, that gave us all more motivation to get up and get moving that much quicker.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU...AND WHY?
There have been many people that have impacted my career, seniors, peers, and subordinates. But one person early in my career inspired me in a profound way. Sergeant Clarence Edward Terry. He was my Team Leader at the time. We were in the field conducting training at Fort Hood, Texas. We were marching all night in the rain doing a movement to contact. We were loaded heavy with AT-4 and Dragon Missiles. Also we were carrying thousands of rounds of ammo. At some point during the night, I stepped in a hole and crashed to the ground. I was tired, freezing and soaking wet, and on top of it a sprained ankle. I had no motivation to drive on. But just then in that moment of defeat, SGT Terry came up from the darkness behind me. He asked if I was OK. “Yes” I replied. He bent down and picked up my Dragon Missile and a can of ammo I was carrying. Without another word he continued to march past me. When I looked up, I saw that he was not only carrying my Dragon and ammo, but he had another Dragon, 4 AT-4s and someone else’s rucksack in addition to his own gear. He gave no complaints, not a word. He just kept going. I thought to myself, “What am I complaining about?” “Look at him.” I was so inspired by his lead by example, professionalism, and “drive on” mentality. His leadership and mentoring was the foundation of my own leadership style.
HOW HAS SERVING THE ARMED FORCES INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
The Army has instilled so many good qualities in me that I otherwise may have never had. The Army Values (Leadership, Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage) have guided me through my career and my personal life. Also, traveling and the diverse ethnicity of the Army has broadened my cultural awareness. This has proved influential in both my career and personal life as well.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE JUST STARTING THEIR MILITARY CAREER OR FACING DEPLOYMENT?
 I would tell everyone that you get out of the service what you put into it, so be sure to take advantage of every opportunity presented to you and make the most of it. Like anything else you have to take the good with the bad, but it is what you make of it. For those that are pending deployment I would tell them to always stay vigilant, you don't rest until you get home!
HOW HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU TO MAINTAIN A BOND WITH THE SERVICE AND THOSE WITH YOU SERVED WITH?
TWS has given me the opportunity to reconnect with and stay in touch with my brothers-in-arms. It is also a great way to meet other veterans, providing an exclusive network for veterans. All veterans share a common bond; TWS provides us a forum in which to share that bond. I hope TWS is around for generations to come.
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SFC Mountain Robicheau
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact Major Wesley Prater HERE.
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