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Description
Oral history interview of Ryan McKibben. Interview conducted by Jackie Huss in Orlando, FL on Zoom on March 3, 2021. Interview topics include family background, why he joined the military, experience with basic training, reaction to 9/11, experience at Redstone Arsenal, Fort Sill, and Fort Benning, experience in Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran, experience working with radar technology, responsibilities of an E5 Sargent, physical and mental injuries, transition back to civilian life, college education, work with politics and legislation, and interest in farming and bee keeping.
Log
:08 Introduction; :54 Birthdate and birthplace; 1:06 Siblings; 1:24 Parents' occupations; 1:55 Education; 2:15 Family military experience; 2:34 Why McKibben joined the military; 3:17 Basic training location; 3:25 Experience with basic training; 4:15 Returned for senior year of high school after basic training; 5:19 Reaction to 9/11; 6:33 Starts talking to an active duty recruiter; 7:12 Redstone Arsenal experience; 8:20 Fort Sill experience and what radar he learned; 10:56 First Duty Station near Fort Sill; 12:00 What he did at his station at Fort Sill; 13:15 Gets assigned to supply room for a unit and receives an award; 14:59 Missed family and girlfriend back at home; 15:50 Assigned to Fort Benning and third infantry division; 16:05 Third Infantry Division; 18:25 First impressions of Kuwait and Iraq; 20:47 Camp Annocanda; 21:22 How different life in Iraq was and moving to Fob Gabe; 22:30 Different environment from home; 23:44 Interactions with civilians; 26:57 Funny anecdote about an Iraqi civilian; 28:24 Mission in 2005 with putting in new radar technology; 31:32 Experience at the border of Iran; 32:52 Experience with rocket fire; 33:45 Bad experiences with rocket fire; 34:44 Differences with that deployment and his first; 35:37 Two weeks of R&R; 38:39 E5 Sargent responsibilities; 44:01 Injuries he sustained during his years of service; 48:55 Mental injuries; 49:16 Death of his close friend during service and the mental repercussions; 51:11 Rewards he obtained during service; 53:25 Homecoming experience; 54:13 Family orchestated a fun homecoming; 56:58 Transitioning back to civilian life (highs and lows); 58:51 Moving to Pennsylvania and into the army reserves; 59:14 Hardships with family and mental health and job hopping; 60:17 College education; 61:26 Extra curriculars during college; 62:06 Started becoming interested in politics and legislation; 62:33 What McKibben did with politics and legislation; 64:53 How McKibben became interested in farming and bee keeping; 69:18 Started selling honey and bees; 70:18 Started working for UF through Veterans Florida; 71:00 Bought land for farming; 71:23 Awarded veteran of the month; 73:38 McKibben's plans for his farm and what he is currently growing; 75:30 Plans to grow citrus and peaches; 77:14 Lessons learned from the military; 79:33 Closing remarks; 81:04 End of Interview
Date of Birth
1982-09-21
Place of Birth
Tallahassee
Gender
Male
Race
White - Non Hispanic
Home State
Florida
War or Conflict
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Status
Veteran
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
2000-09-14
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
2000-2010
2010-06-05
Entrance into Service
Enlisted
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Unit of Service
Headquarters Battery; 1st Battalion - 10th Field Artillery Regiment; 3rd Brigade; 3rd Infantry Division
Location of Service
Fort Benning; Redstone Arsenal; Fort Sill
Highest Rank
Staff Sergeant
Service Related Injury
Yes
Medals
Army Commendation Medal (4 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award); National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award); Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal (2nd Award); Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 2); Combat Action Badge
Achievements
In 2006, I was assigned to a targeting unit that utilized the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder Radar to provide for counterfire missions on enemy targets in the Diyala province of Iraq. I also provided information through visual surveillance of insurgent activity in the city of Baquba. In 2007-2008 I was assigned to the same unit but this time along the border of Iran. On July 11th I experienced a close call rocket attack and damage to the tent I was in at the time of the attack and ultimately lost one of the soldiers attached to my radar section.
City of Birth
Tallahassee
Country of Birth
United States
Interviewer
Jackie Huss
Interview Date
3-3-2021
Location of Interview
Digitally via Zoom
Subjects
McKibben, Ryan; Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2000-2010, Personal Narratives. United States Army.
Contributor Affiliation / Organization
RICHES University of Central Florida
Length of Interview
1:21:04
Publisher
Department of History, University of Central Florida
Type
Video; MovingImage
Rights
All rights are held by the respective holding institution. This material is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, (407) 823-2576. http://library.ucf.edu/about/departments/special-collections-university-archives/
Repository
University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives
Contributing Project
UCF Community Veterans History Project
Document Type
Interview
Semester
Spring
Recommended Citation
RICHES, "McKibben, Ryan interview" (2021). Veterans Oral Histories. 717.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/717