Wrangler inspired by 9/11

Photo By Amy Christopherson | Cpl. Kammal Peterson, a San Diego native and the identification card facility site security manager for the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, battles an opponent during a combatives tournament on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, Aug. 13. Peterson joined the Army because he was inspired by the events of 9/11.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

09.10.2011

Story by Spc. Amy Christopherson 

4th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Most Americans remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of those unforgettable days that many people relive on each year’s anniversary.

Cpl. Kammal Peterson, a San Diego native and the identification card facility site security manager for the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, is no exception.

“I was still in college in the ROTC program,” Peterson said. “We were on the range that day and had only been out there for an hour when we were told to go inside. There were people gathered in the hallway watching TV. I saw that the World Trade Center had been attacked.”

Peterson has family members in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and he knew his uncles sometimes worked at the World Trade Center. When he contacted his family, he learned that one uncle had a meeting scheduled in the World Trade Center that day, but was called away to do something else at the last minute. He lost many colleagues that day.

Though he was already thinking about joining the military prior to the attacks, Peterson considers the events of 9/11 to be one of the major influencing factors when he enlisted in 2007.

“Initially there was a lot of opposition from my family,” he said. “But I knew, especially in a time of war, not as many people would want to join. So I wanted to be there.”

Peterson said his family eventually came around, and they are proud of him. His stepfather is a military chaplain, and Peterson plans to follow in those footsteps.

Peterson, who is currently completing his second deployment to Iraq, wanted to do something that would be beneficial to others, not just to himself. He saw his service in the Army as a way to help. But he doesn’t feel like he’s completely fulfilled those goals yet.

“I’m working towards becoming a chaplain,” he said. “My stepfather is guiding me in the steps towards making that transition. I want to finish out my career as a military officer.”

• Date Taken: 09.10.2011
• Date Posted: 09.10.2011 04:00
• Story ID: 76799
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ