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ORWELL -- During his first semester at Kent State University, Thomas Stump said he and a buddy were hanging out when they saw an advertisement for the Army.
"The next day, we went to the recruiting office in Mentor and originally were considering joining the Air Force, but we were disappointed with their incentives, so we went back to the car. We almost changed our minds about signing up for the military when an Army recruiter came out and talked to us," Stump, now 37, said.
He said when he and his friend took a placement test to determine where they would best be suited, they each qualified for more than 90 military positions. However, they both chose to become combat engineers.
After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 2005, Stump was sent to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was supposed to serve for only four years, but he was recalled to active duty while serving in the Army Reserve and ended up doing almost eight years.
He was stationed in Iraq from 2005 to 2007, including being stationed in Kirkuk for about 15 months. His job was route clearance for the 130-member company, which meant driving a large vehicle -- similar to a South African mine vehicle -- with a mechanical arm that sweeps for roadside bombs.
"During those 15 months, my vehicle was hit four times," Stump recalled. "I ruptured my ear drum on my first combat mission. If you were hit five times, you were not allowed to go out. We went fishing in the Persian Gulf, but were not allowed to go swimming because of floating land mines."
He said being in the Middle East was similar to the Wild West -- chaos.
He told a story about a time his unit came upon an Iraqi national who killed an Iraqi policeman and took his clothes, then blew him up in his car. Another Iraqi policeman saw what happened and beat the national within an inch of his life, then bound his hands to the steering wheel of his car with duct tape.
"He wound up getting blown up," Stump said.
There was another incident where a car bomb went off in a town center, and "a sheepherder was going by (with sheep and goats), and the people talked to the shepherd and he donated a goat. They sacrificed it and everyone put their hands in the blood and put bloody handprints on the walls to show that a miracle happened here (since no one was killed)," Stump recalled.
During their breaks, the soldiers would pass the time playing Frisbee, cards and basketball. Stump was captain of the company basketball team and they made it to the "quarter finals."
Stump was honorably discharged in 2012 with after effects of the roadside bombs, including headaches, sensitivity to light and PTSD. He received 30% disability, and now is being reevaluated to receive up to 70%. He is going to be evaluated again because of continued research and findings on the effects of PTSD on soldiers.
Stump spends time with family and friends, playing golf, going fishing, playing poker, riding a quad and going on trips with and cooking with his girlfriend. He also does a little day trading part time with a friend.
He said he is glad he joined the Army.
"I don't regret it. It was a great life experience," Stump said.
Thomas Stump
AGE: 37
RESIDENCE: Orwell
SERVICE BRANCH: Army
MILITARY HONORS: Combat Service badge, Overseas Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal
OCCUPATION: Day trader
FAMILY: Girlfriend, Candace