Interview

Justin McLouth, Interviewed by Arianna Krol, 2018

 
INTERVIEW LOG:

Name of person(s) interviewed: Justin McLouth
Other people present: Arianna Krol
Researcher: Arianna Krol
Date of Interview: May 21st and 22nd, 2018
Location of interview: Adams, Oregon
Special conditions: Outside (trucks, birds, children)
General description of contents: Sergeants basic info, boot camp experiences, Jessica Lynch, injuries, combat training, special operations, post military service
Length of interview: 00:50:08
 
00:15
Were you drafted, or did you enlist?

00:23
Where were you living at the time?

00:30
Reasons for joining the military

01:15
Why did you pick the branch you joined?

02:37
Do you remember your first days in service?

05:57
Do you remember your instructors?

06:40
How did you get through it?

07:30
Where exactly did you go?

08:35
Do you remember arriving/What was it like?

09:47
What was your job/assignment?

11:30
Story of how SSgt. McLouth became a sniper

12:40
Did you see combat?

14:33
Were there casualties in your unit?

16:19
Were you ever injured?

18:43
What was the recovery process like?

21:43
Jessica Lynch

23:24
Was there any more cool things you got to do?

25:20
Did you get any medals or citations?

27:27
How did you stay in touch with your family?

28:28
What was the food like?

29:33
Did you have plenty of supplies?

29:56
Did you feel a lot of pressure or stress?

33:00
Entertainment in the service

34:15
What did you do when you were on leave?

35:26
What are your favorite photographs?

37:00
Relationship with fellow soldiers

38:00
Journal/ Communications with mom

39:10
Recalling the end of service

40:00
After service

41:30
Working after the service

42:50
Continued friendships after serving

44:08
How the military influenced his thinking

46:00
How the military influenced his life

47:35
Skills he uses today that he learned while serving

48:36
Hopes for his sons and service

48:36
Is there anything you would like to add that I haven’t covered already?        

Mr. Justin McLouth
Interviewed by Arianna Krol, 2018

SSgt. Justin McLouth was raised in Tollgate, Oregon, before he enlisted into the U.S. Army. SSgt. McLouth looked into the Air Force, Marines, and other options for military service, but nothing spoke as loud as the Army. The main reason for this was the fact that Staff Sergeant (E6) McLouth wanted to be in special operations, allowing himself to go beyond what some soldiers could not do.

Staff Sergeant Justin McLouth served in Desert Storm, and has traveled all over Afghanistan, and in Iraq right around 9/11. Being Involved with the notorious Jessica Lynch POW (Prisoner of War) Rescue, McLouth in this interview explains his life involving his service in the United States Military--where he describes his life before his service, during his service (boot camp, missions, and other experiences), and after his service (career, family life, etc.).
 
During his service, SSgt. McLouth served as an Army Ranger, and initially worked with security forces, or “kicking down doors,” and “cleaning our buildings” as he states. Out of the 400 men wanting to be an Army Ranger, only he and 40 others graduated. Later in his military career, SSgt. McLouth became a sniper. Since he was in Special Ops, McLouth states that he was in the “World’s Most Elite Infantry Unit,” and involved in the famous Jessica Lynch Rescue.
 
In the rescue of Jessica Lynch, the men in special forces helped to rescue Lynch, who was captured by enemy forces. This mission became so famous that there were books and a movie made about it. McLouth never got to meet her in person, but he was happy to say he played a role in the mission. The mission he stated was highly publicized, (for a curious individual may research and find out why) but it did not come close to the honor of the time spent with his fellow soldiers--who are more like brothers and sisters to him.
 
In the closing few minutes of the interview, SSgt. McLouth says that he regrets not serving more in the military, quickly stating that nothing was wrong with where he is now, but he also wishes for his sons to commit time to the service, for he has made unbreakable friendships, went on incredible missions, and has been taught skills and the willpower to get him where he is today.