My twin brother and I served in Baghdad, Iraq during the surge in 2007. I was an Apache Attack Helicopter pilot and my brother was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer. During 2007, the top two types of coalition forces that insurgents targeted were Apache Pilots and EOD soldiers. It was a rough tour for both of us and in the last five years a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought about the war. I prayed for my brother everyday and sometimes even flew missions over him and checked up on him. Someone asked my brother once what it was like being over there and fighting in war. My brother said "It's like a roller coaster. You have some of the most intense and exciting moments of your life and at other times some of the lowest, harsh and sad moments." Although it was a tough time, it gives us some solitude seeing the Iraqi people governing for themselves now.

My brother and I now live together and can notice the changes in each other since the war. It's been a difficult road to coming back to a normal life. We are still struggling a little but slowly getting there. We are both proud veterans and happy to be home in the country we love.