Maj. Jim Donovan

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas--Five years ago this month, U. S.-led military forces invaded Iraq and quickly occupied the capital city of Baghdad. Those first days of the war have already become history, destined to be analyzed and studied by pundits today and for decades to come.

Maj. Jim Donovan was part of that initial troop buildup in Iraq, one of the 101st that rolled in country behind the 3rd Infantry. It was hectic, he said. As they prepared for the invasion from Kuwait, they waited and waited for equipment that arrived only three days before they moved. Three days to unload, test, and repack. Three days to familiarize his soldiers with the tools to save their lives.

Donovan said that the fact they were among the first troops in country meant they did not initially have phones, internet--lots of things that made life more comfortable or kept troops more connected to their friends and family. Ironically, those hardships may have been a blessing for troop morale. As each new shipment arrived, there was celebration. Soldiers were grateful for their gradually improving conditions.He recalled a warm reception from the Iraqi people. Surreal scenes of soldiers and sheiks sipping chai tea were new but would soon become cliche. Donovan said there was an Iraqi Air Force general who opened a shop. He spoke English, so he and Donovan conversed easily, all the while hanging on the wall behind them was a photo of fallen dictator Saddam Hussein's promoting this general.

"A few weeks earlier," said Donovan incredulously, "we had been enemies."

Donovan is not entirely comfortable with the press. He's a little stiff, a little wary, unsure of what to expect. It is clear from his experience and demeanor that he is accustomed to command and control. He is polite, earnest, reserved. The boy from a small town in New Hampshire started out to be an engineer but was derailed when a friend's father encouraged him to join ROTC. He found his profession. Athletic and analytical, the army appealed to him.

The New Englander's first duty station was Fort Rucker, Alabama, a culture shock in many ways. His accent was pretty heavy then (though it has been softened by years of travel) and the Southerners had a little trouble understanding him. He hated the rural area as a young man, but when he went back with his family years later found it perfect for raising kids.

Did he eat grits?

"No!" he stated emphatically, "and I still don't!"

The subject of helicopters creeps into the conversation. His features became animated as he described the UH60 Blackhawk he pilots. The assault/support helicopter is mostly used to move troops. Helicopters were a welcome sight for a soldier, he said laughing. "They always brought something good. They bring you in, take you out, bring you supplies, bring you help."

But aren't helicopters shot down?

He acknowledged that the nature of the aircraft and its mission means that he is often flying within a "threat range," but added that the number of incidents compared to the millions of hours they fly is pretty minimal. "If you're not focused on what you're doing you're more likely to cause an accident yourself rather than being attacked."

Despite all the talk of machines, it is obvious Donovan's focus is on people. Even though he has his heroes--Gen. Blackjack Pershing and his former division commander, Gen. David Petraeus, among them--he is most impressed by his peers. "They keep you coming back," he said smiling.

He spoke about the soldiers who served under him and the rewards in watching them come together as a team, or overcome their fears. He remembered a private who became hysterical, was in tears, as they were going into Iraq. He and his commanding officer thought this guy would make it and ordered him in. "He [became] one of my best soldiers--hardworking, loyal, one of the first to volunteer. There's a lot of satisfaction in seeing that [transformation]."

Relationships matter, whether with Iraqi civilians, fellow soldiers, or his wife and family. He credits his wife with facing the challenges of keeping their family together during moves and deployments. He looks forward to making a more stable home for his kids, a time in the near future where they can remain in one place to finish high school. He has already gotten orders for Korea, though. Obviously, this is a better assignment than going back to Iraq, but it will still mean separation from his family.

As a student at the Army's Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Donovan and his fellow officers are comrades in an intense program designed to make them better officers. Having been an instructor himself, the major is comfortable in an academic environment and impressed with the "level-headedness" of his instructors. But he believes the people he has met to be the most valuable aspect of his time in Kansas.

"The friendships we have made here will last the rest of our lives," he said.