Andrea Jackson is a Waynesboro native and current resident of the City. Andrea joined the U.S. Army in 2002 after graduating high school. She attended basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina and afterwards she was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Her unit was the 2nd Armory Calvary Regiment, also known as 2nd ACR. While on duty, she remembers watching Colin Powell's speech to the United Nations in early 2003. Her drill sergeant told her before she arrived at Fort Polk that she would be deploying to Iraq. Her unit was preparing to deploy as soon as she arrived.

After arriving in Iraq, Andrea was hit with the reality that the things she learned in basic training were actually being used in day-to-day life. It wasn't just a simulation anymore, and she noted that, the unknown is scary. Andrea talked about the one time she felt scared while convoying from Kuwait to Baghdad. It was a three day trip. The Chaplain drove the vehicle and she had to hold her weapon and be prepared and ready to act in case anything happened. Thankfully they arrived in Bagdad without conflict.

When they got to Baghdad, they arrived at a run down training campus (for the olympics). Iraq was in ruins, and had been for many years. Her unit moved locations and set up in an old dilapitated hospital. She noted that she had the "experience of building up the infrastructure of Iraq." It wasn't easy. Andrea told a story about getting what it means to get "back to the basics." They had to bring water from another location, clean up the trash, wash their laundry in buckets, shower on the porch, eat MREs, and create a place for the basic necessities of life. She laughs about it now, but at the time it was a new experience that made her nervous.

One of Andrea's jobs was to build up morale. She had time to walk around and meet people and get to know them. This wasn't just socializing to socialize. It had a purpose. Andrea needed to build bonds with the people around her, so they would feel comfortable bringing their problems to her, if they ever needed to.

Things weren't always easy going. Andrea noted that the job created a lot of mental strain that she wasn't prepared for, and it does take a toll on your health. She was only 22, and she describes the job as it as being like "a therapist".

In August 2003, there was a terrorist bombing in the Green Zone and Andrea was in what she describes as the "suburbs" of Baghdad near the river, some distance away from the bombing. She and the Chaplain went to help the injured. Andrea notes, "I was just doing my job." She explained that she held the injured's hands and gave comfort to those that needed it. She received a medal for her work and gave it to a history professor to use during his lectures about the Iraq War.

Information provided by Andrea Jackson: January 12, 2021