[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 12:12:44 10/12/06
Mike Zacchea has served twelve years of active duty in the Marines, including deployments to Haiti, Somalia and Iraq. During a year in Iraq, he served as a senior battalion advisor and worked closely with the first leaders of the new Iraqi military. He is the recipient of two Bronze Stars for valor and a Purple Heart.
He has suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after particularly violent and disturbing incidents in Iraq. Among other things, we discuss the assassination attempt made on him, the kidnapping and torture of his Iraqi colleagues. Perhaps most importantly though, he talks about the close friendships he has made with Iraqis and the need to support them.