Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | Spc. Sonia Bhangoo, human resource specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop,...... read more read more
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by Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd HBCT, 4th ID PAO
BAQUBAH, Iraq (October 9, 2006) -- "When I came to Iraq I was 'alright I am admin, I probably will never go off the FOB, probably never see an IED.' Now that I have, I call my self combat S-1," said a smiling Spc. Sonia Bhangoo, human resource specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Lightning.
The longtime Fresno and Sanger, Calif., resident was referencing the first time she traveled outside the wire on patrol to Logistical Support Area Anaconda from Forward Operating Base Warhorse and encountered an improvised explosive device.
Bhangoo had been itching to get off the base since she arrived in Iraq from her home station of Fort Carson, Colo. She did not want to go the entire deployment without seeing what Iraq and its people truly looked liked.
No more than five minutes had passed since the patrol left the gates of FOB Warhorse than did a roadside bomb detonate in front the Humvee she was traveling in.
"I was scared when it went off," Bhangoo said. "It was an adrenaline rush; it took me about 10 seconds (to grasp the situation) at first, I did not know what had happened."
The Humvee drove through the blast, dust and debris was everywhere in the cab of the vehicle and Bhangoo kept thinking to herself 'I just got hit by an IED.' Luckily, no one was hurt in the explosion and after performing security checks the patrol continued on to its destination.
As a result of the event, Bhangoo was awarded the Combat Action Badge for actions on contact with the enemy.
This incident was not the closest Bhangoo has come to contact with enemy fire. While performing guard duty with her Republic of Georgia counterpart, a mortar landed 50 meters from her position.
"Now that scared me; that scared me so bad I started shaking," Bhangoo said.
It took her a few moments to compose herself and she recalls having to send her radio reports in a second time because the first time was incoherent due to her stuttering.
"My Georgian was laughing at me because I was shaking so bad," she said.
Though she has had some close calls Bhangoo takes it all in stride and has a good sense of humor about it. She has taken a bit of playful ribbing from some of her friends about being bad luck. She looks at it a bit differently, drawing strength from these incidents. Three years ago, as a student at Yosemite High School, she could have not have imagined being deployed to Iraq and accomplishing what she has this past year.
With her first deployment almost over Bhangoo is looking forward to returning to the Fresno area, to visit family and have some fun with friends at River Park.
Her father first emigrated from Punjab, India, in the late 70s with her mother following shortly in the early 80s. They currently run a wine and spirits store outside Fresno. What Bhangoo misses most about home is the comfort of her mother's cooking.
California will always be home for her and she plans to leave the Army after her enlistment is finished and use her Montgomery G.I. Bill to attend a University of California school.
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2006 15:15 |
| Story ID: | 7966 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 125 |
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