Karlton Johnson, Chairman of the National Space Society’s Board of Governors
Years ago, I had an experience that impacted me profoundly and reinforced my belief that the future of humanity is truly written in the stars.
I was an officer serving in the U.S. military, stationed in Iraq supporting Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Our team was responsible for assisting the Iraqi Ministries of Defense and Interior and the Counter Terrorism Service to improve the Iraqi Security Force’s institutional performance. That support would help them to assume full responsibility for population protection, leading them toward the goal of becoming a self-sufficient nation.
This was very important but dangerous work. On a near-daily basis, our coalition of multinational partners was subjected to a number of threats: sniper fire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and mortar and rocket attacks. The weather was often arid, with dust storms arising with little notice that would block our vision, and we were often able to see just a few feet. Many of us were there on tours ranging from six to fifteen months, and just about everyone was on their second or third tour, having left family and friends back home. The days were long and filled with challenges, but despite knowing that at any time we could be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, we took each one as a gift, holding firm to the knowledge that we were making a difference in the lives of others.