Jason Dominguez

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez was born on January 6, 1980 in Columbus, Ohio. He discusses his childhood, why he joined the Marine Corp, and his Marine training. He describes his reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and how he packed his bags so that he was ready to deploy, even though he wasn't deployed until 2005.

Keywords: Basic training (Military education); Camp Lejeune (N.C.); Columbus (Ohio); Infantry School (U.S.); Iraq War, 2003-2011; Mount Carmel Hospitals (Columbus, Ohio); Ohio State University; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; United States. Marine Corps

Subjects: 9/11; Childhood; Family military history; Joining the Marines - Basic and Military Occupational Specialty

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez talks about his Company being activated. With the deployment close to his graduation Dominguez had to get special permission to attend. There he was asked "What are you doing after graduation?"

Keywords: Commencement ceremonies; Ohio State University; Petraeus, David Howell

Subjects: Graduation/Deployment

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez's first operation is less intense than expected, but is a good way for the Marines to accustom themselves to fighting in Iraq. He discusses his war journal and what it might have meant to his family if he didn't return, and military patrols.

Keywords: AAVP7A1 (Tracked landing vehicle); Baghdādī (Iraq); Euphrates River; Fallujah, Battle of, Fallūjah, Iraq, 2004; Haditha (Iraq); War diaries

Subjects: Deployment; First Operation; Military patrols; War journal

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez discusses Operation New Market during which Sergeant Wimberg was killed. He talks about their tactics, walking through the streets while Frank Sinatra was playing, seeing an Albino camel, and a funeral that could have become violent. He says that you have to learn to separate what's going on around you from yourself and to realize that even though you might have to kill it doesn't make you a killer.

Keywords: Altieri, Daniel; Funeral processions; Haditha (Iraq); Military intelligence; United States. Army. Psychological Operations; Wimberg, David N

Subjects: Dealing with loss/killing; Operation New Market

Segment Synopsis: During Operation Matador in the City of Al Qaim Lima Company lost 8 soldiers. Dominguez recalls his trip to Al Qaim where they were fired upon from the New Ubaydi district where they lost several soldiers; one to a aircraft canon hidden by insurgents in a basement bunker. He tells of his words that were written up in the Washington Post, and of a hero that saved men caught in an amtrak hit by an improvised explosive device.

Keywords: AAVP7A1 (Tracked landing vehicle); Bombs; Camp, Mark A.; Derga, Dustin A.; Goodwin, Anthony L.; Insurgency; Ivy, Kendall H. II; Operation Matador; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Qāʼim (Iraq); Washington Post Company; ʻUbaydī (Iraq)

Subjects: Al Qāʼim; First losses; IED explosion

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez discusses how his service has changed the way he looks at God, the choices our country's leaders make, and the importance of community service. He talks about how fighting taught him to let go, because no one is ever really in control. He also explains how veterans perspectives on the world are different and valuable to society, and the necessity of keeping it together.

Keywords: Combat; Free will and determinism; Religion; Service; United States. Marine Corps. Marine Regiment, 25th. Battalion, 3rd. Lima Company; Veterans; World War II

Subjects: Are you the same person; Biggest contribution; How do you feel about your service; Views on God; What did it all mean

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez formed the Haditha Damn Smoke Circle where he and the other soldiers could smoke cigars and relax, the only requirement was a non-military hat. He discussed his deployment which included Survival language training and a trip to Las Vegas where the men had their last moments with significant others and the term "Vegas babies" started. He also describes living at Haditha Dam and what Mortar hour meant.

Keywords: Arabic language; Camp Wilson (Calif.); Cigars; Communications, military; Haditha Dam (Iraq); Las Vegas (Nev.); Portable toilets; Saxbe, Rocky; Twentynine Palms (Calif.)

Subjects: Communications; Deployment; Haditha Dam; R&R; Twin sister's wedding

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez's dad and brother flew down to Camp Lejeune to welcome him home. At the Camp they had set up a memorial for fallen soldiers where some of the men had their first chance to grieve. Dominguez tells a story of Vice President Dick Cheney pinning purple hearts on recipients of two or more and of arriving back in Columbus where people were lining the streets. He also discusses the loss of Andre Williams and Christopher Lyons and what those sacrifices meant to the men who served with them.

Keywords: Ayn al-Asad Airbase (Iraq); Barwahna (Iraq); Camp Lejeune (N.C.); Cheney, Richard B.; Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station (N.C.); Jones, James L. (James Logan), 1943-; Kuwait; Lyons, Christopher P.; Memorials; Reunions; Williams, Andre L.

Subjects: Columbus, OH; Coming home; Loss; Memorial for the fallen; Vice President pins Purple Hearts

Segment Synopsis: Dominguez talks about how soldiers are volunteers not victims and that they have a lot to offer because of their experiences. He talks about the hyper-vigilance he has experienced as a part of PTSD and that the best therapy is taking control of something small and giving back to the community.

Keywords: Adapting; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic growth; Resiliency

Subjects: Adjusting to change; Dealing with negative experiences; PTSD; Who are those that serve

Segment Synopsis: August 3rd 2005 six snipers were attacked and killed by insurgents. Dominguez recalls talking with two other soldiers, who were later killed, before the battle. He talks about the operation and the IED that killed 15 more Marines.

Keywords: AAVP7A1 (Tracked landing vehicle); Ambushes and surprises; Barwahna (Iraq); Haditha Dam (Iraq); Haqlaniyah (Iraq); Hoffman, Justin F.; Kreuter, David Kenneth J.; United States. Marine Corps. Mortuary Affairs

Subjects: Battle of Haditha (Operation Quick Strike)