Chief: My Journey Thru Iraq at the Peak of War

Scott H. Dearduff


Overview: CMSgt Scott Dearduff (ret) describes in vivid detail his deployment to Balad Air Base in Iraq as part of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) from July 2006 – July 2007. Chief Dearduff was the Command Chief Master Sergeant supporting the commander, Brigadier General Robin Rand. Together they were responsible for 8,000 Airmen serving in more than 50 locations. The 332d’s rich history dates back to the famed Tuskegee Airmen who flew the P-51 “Red Tails” in World War II. The 332d exemplary legacy continued in Iraq with the Chief candidly relaying combat operations as he struggled between love of family and love of nation.