Adam Eisenhauer

Adam Eisenhauer, 23, of Ridgecrest, is a sergeant in the U.S. Army who recently spent several months in combat there while attached to the 101st Chemical Division.

Adam is a well-known young man in the Kern River Valley.He graduated from 8th grade at South Fork School and went to Kern Valley High School during his freshman and sophomore year.His family moved to Ridgecrest in his junior year.He attended Burroughs High School and graduated in June of 1998.He has numerous friends and family members living in the Kern River Valley, who say they appreciate the love and support that they have received during the time Adam was deployed.

Adam admits that he was homesick when he was away overseas.But as he traveled with his platoon through Al-Basra and other towns and along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, he was 100 percent committed and determined to do a good job.

He says he will never forget the sandstorm that saved his life and the life of his platoon.It was March 23, just a few months ago, when his platoon was given orders to move onward the next morning.
...
Adam says that the sandstorm hitting his platoon and holding them back saved them from being struck by the enemy.

Adam said he decided to join the Army right out of high school.Six weeks after his graduation in 1998 Adam left home and began boot camp at Fort McClellan in Alabama.His class was the last to be trained at that fort.His Military Occupation School (MOS) training was as a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Specialist.

When Adam completed his MOS training he proceeded to Fort Bragg and was attached to the 101st Chemical Company 3rd Platoon in December of 1998.

In October of 2000 he went to Air Assault School at Fort Polk in Louisiana and learned to rappel out of a helicopter, which later earned him his Air Assault wings.This type of training was extremely exciting, Adam said.He also said he is proudest of earning his wings over all his other achievements.Only four out of 10 make the grade, he said.

From October 2001 to May 2002 Adam was sent to Afghanistan as part of the "in support" team.He was part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Threat Protection in Qatar, where he stayed for seven months.This was his first time overseas and during this time he was stationed at Camp As-Saliyaiia.He was not in any type of combat during his stay in Qatar.

Major changes took place for Adam in August of 2002 to February 2003 when he was attached to the 1st Marine Division Decontamination Team.They were first sent to Camp Doha, in Kuwait.

Adam says he was with a platoon that ended up facing the front line, fighting for our country alongside other soldiers and Marines in Iraq.He stayed in Iraq until the day the war ended and then he began his journey back to the states.

While he was overseas, Adam rose to the rank of Sergeant.He was in charge of eight soldiers and said his job was to keep them focused, while staying focused himself.

He was awarded the NCO Academy Medal for primary leadership classes and three Army Achievement Medals for meritorious action.His actions and training in the desert exercise landed him with the Special School Medal and he received the National Defense Service Medal (War on Terrorism) as well as two combat stripes.

When asked what motivated him to join the Army right out of high school, he said, "Since I was six years old, I have been looking up to my Grandpa, Bob Eisenhauer Sr.He has set such a good example and has been such a great influence on me, knowing that he too served in the Army during World War II.All this led me to the decision to join the Army."

In addition, Adam said by going into the Army it bought him time, time he felt he needed in order to make decisions about college and his future.

His long term goal is to attend college at Cerro Coso in Ridgecrest for two years after his discharge from the Army.He is scheduled to finish his term on July 23, 2004.

Prior to his discharge, he is planning on taking six months worth of college classes.He has $50,000 in college funds from the Army, plus he is eligible for the G.I. Bill, which will assist him with college expenses.

One day he would like to become a certified electrician, and he enjoys working on cars.There is no doubt that whatever Adam decides to do, he will commit himself to it and become successful.He says the military teaches commitment, and the understanding of "if you do it, you finish it" and you won't fail.

When asked what it is like to come back home after being in the war, Adam said, "Friends' attitudes changed so much; our views of the world are so different and our focuses are different."

Many of his friends are gone, he said.Some are dead, some are in prison, a few are married and there are a few who went onto college and got their four year degree.

Adam says he has changed tremendously since high school and fighting in the war.He says that when he was overseas he believed he was doing the right thing.He supports the government's decisions in the arena of the Middle East.

Being home after serving time overseas, he has recently been facing the emotions of what he saw while overseas, the emotions, he says, of anger and guilt.But Adam said he will be fine; he has the skills to free himself from the emotions that are naturally going to be there after dealing with such a situation as the one he dealt with for months.

Adam recalled that it was different when he made his first visit home during his military service, prior to going overseas.He said he was much easier going, enjoyed the laid back attitude, and joking around with his family and friends.

He is presently home on his second visit and after having served in Iraq.He says his idea of the value of human life has changed immensely, as well as the value of time.

His chance of having to go back overseas is extremely slim, he said.
...
Adam brought home a gift I will cherish forever; he gave me an American flag that flew in Baghdad the day the war ended.He added, "It is in safekeeping."

Even though it was scary and hard to deal with at times, Adam said, "We must not allow complacency.Appreciate the freedom you have been given.