I was honored to serve in Iraq as a Marine Corps Sergeant Major alongside Command Master Chief Tony Moody. He and his family recently came to visit and it brought back many memories that I hadn’t thought about in a long time. Tony was a courageous professional, and I was truly blessed to have, what is known as, a Battle Buddy – basically, someone that has your back, not only in combat but also in life.
Our home base was Camp Fallujah and seeing him reminded me of the Second Battle of Fallujah and how, after a very bloody fight, the city was secured to the point that the first free elections could be held.
A Provisional Support Battalion was created with volunteer Soldiers, Seabees, and Marines to provide additional security, focused specifically on protecting the elections. 
This story isn’t about me or my experiences during that time, it’s about those elections and how proud I felt after sleepless days and nights of preparation as we watched to see the first Iraqi civilians courageously come out to vote.
I hope that with the approaching elections next Tuesday, here in America, that we will all take the time to thoughtfully vote.
Every vote counts!
Eric