Dear I-Report Editor, I would like to submit a story for CNN's series on "The War Through Your Eyes: Ten Years On." I was deployed for 20 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Department of Defense Civilian. A copy of my story is attached, along with a photo. I also have pasted my story below. I tried to the upload the report and photo using the CNN I-report "Upload" button, but had problem creating an account.  If you want to post my story and photo, you may use my name (Andrew S. Backe). I am not seeking an anonymous posting. Thank you. Sincerely, Andrew S. Backe _________________________             America’s New Attitude towards the Military By Andrew S. Backe         For most of the period between 2001 and 2011, I worked as a Department of Defense Civilian. I was deployed for 20 months of that time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For me, the Iraq War profoundly revealed a change in America’s view of the U.S. military.       For several decades prior to 2001, America held the military in extremely low regard. This unpopularity was due to America’s experience in the Vietnam War. High Vietnamese civilian causalities, military atrocities, and the ultimate loss of the war deeply tainted the military. Vietnam veterans received the brunt of America’s disgust with the war. They were ostracized by their generation and endured unflattering portrayals in popular culture (vividly illustrated in such movies as “Apocalypse Now,” “Platoon,” and “Full Metal Jacket”). The repercussions lasted for a long time. I served in the military in the early 1980s and then attended college and graduate school. Military service still was unpopular, so I frequently felt forced to keep my prior service low-key while in universities. The liberation of Kuwait in 1991 restored some degree of confidence in the U.S. military, but did not change American attitudes dramatically. As late as the year 2000, after I had earned my PhD, I was advised to keep my prior military service off of my resume when applying for university appointments.       Attitudes changed after September 11, 2001. Military service became much more acceptable