Episode Summary
War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. In the early morning darkness of March 23, 2003, just three days after the official start of the Iraq War, a shocking act of violence erupted, not from an outside enemy, but from within the ranks of the U.S. Army. It was an act that forever changed Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Bart Womack’s life, and would later become the central focus of his gripping book, Embedded Enemy. Stationed at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait, the Headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division was making final preparations for the invasion of Iraq. But that night, as soldiers tried to rest before crossing the border, an explosion shattered the calm. A grenade was tossed into a tent. Seconds later, gunfire rang out. Smoke, confusion, and panic followed. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms
“I knew we were in the land of not quite right,” Womack recalled in a recent interview. “And that was a not quite right grenade that, for some reason, there were sparks before it exploded.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“We’re under attack.”
Womack and a fellow officer acted quickly, rushing to alert their colonel and evacuate the tent. “Just like that, it was pitch dark, and the tent was filled with smoke,” Womack said. “I shook the commander vigorously until he woke up, and I was shouting, ‘Get up. We’re under attack.’”
The attacker? A fellow American soldier, one of their own, who had sworn the same oath to defend the Constitution. Two officers were killed. Fourteen others were wounded, six of whom were evacuated and never returned. The emotional and psychological trauma from that night continues to haunt many of the survivors. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium, Newsbreak and Blogspot.
From Battlefield to Healing Ground, War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq.
Womack, a decorated Iraq War veteran with two Bronze Stars (one for valor), the Legion of Merit, and the Army Ranger Tab, now devotes his life to helping others recover from the trauma of war. After 29 years of service in the U.S. Army, including assignments as a Drill Sergeant, Ranger Instructor, and Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, he has turned his focus to serving veterans in new ways.
Now a resident of Pittsburgh, Womack holds a B.S. in Business Management from Park University and an MBA from Waynesburg University. He serves as the Program Manager for Onward to Opportunity, Pittsburgh, a Syracuse University initiative that equips transitioning service members and veterans with career training and support. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms
But perhaps his most passionate endeavor is a
