TUPELO, Miss. (Tribune News Service) — Two decades ago in January 2005, more than 3,500 members of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team were deployed to Iraq as part of a year-long effort to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 155th ABCT is the largest unit in the Mississippi National Guard and is headquartered in Tupelo with subordinate units all over the state.

During the deployment, the 155th played a crucial role in providing security, finding and arresting terrorists, working with the Iraqi government and local police forces, helping to rebuild or refurbish schools, promoting stability and economic development and providing better infrastructure for the Iraqi people.

Electricity, water and fuel were scarce in Iraq. The 155th worked with the new Iraqi government to change that.

The soldiers of the 155th also played a support role in three elections in Iraq in 2005.

In Iraq, then-Col. Augustus L. Collins of Booneville, who was later promoted to the rank of major general, was commander of the 155th, and the 155th was under direct command of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force and supported by units with the Air Force, Navy and Marines.

First impressions

Recently, members of the 155th ABCT, who spent much or all of 2005 in Iraq, gathered on the occasion of the 20th anniversary. But no special date or event is needed for these men and women to stay in touch.

Talk to just about any of them, and it will soon be clear that time has done little to erode the bond that formed among them.

“We were one big family away from our other family,” said Rob Edwards who, these days, is director of security at North Mississippi Medical Center. “We were definitely a tight-knit group, and many of us continue to stay in touch.”

First impressions of Iraq were similar from soldier to soldier — it made them think of a third-world country. They saw poverty, trash, mud huts, poor water systems and much more.

Jesse Cornelius of Nettleton recalled refueling stops where he’d see barefoot children standing on the roadsides begging for food.

“It broke my heart,” he said. “I also remember seeing the prettiest little girl, probably about 7, walk out to a ditch and take a drink of dirty water. I thought about that a lot and the entitled kids in this country.”

Accommodations differed for units depending on where they were headquartered. Some slept in large air-conditioned tents, much appreciated in the dry heat with temperatures often higher than 100 degrees. Others were not so fortunate and slept in the heat.

For some, 2005 in Iraq was their first deployment; for others, it was old hat. Some went home and remained active in the National Guard but never deployed again.

Despite their individual service records, most had similar feelings before being deployed.

“There was certainly a mixture of many emotions,” said U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly. “There was a little fear and some apprehension. And excitement to find out if I was up to the test. There was also an overwhelming sense of duty and obligation.”

Kelly served in the National Guard for 39 years and six months, retiring May 4, 2025. While in Iraq in 2005, Kelly’s responsibilities ran the gamut. The first half of his deployment, he served as operations officer, where his tasks were many — from patrolling to serving as liaison with Iraqi police and army.

“The second half, I flew with Gen. Collins, visiting bases all over Iraq,” Kelly said. “Where Gen. Collins went, I went. I have immense respect for him.”

Iraq in 2005 was Matt Blaylock’s first deployment.

“I was nervous, anxious and relieved,” he said. “We prayed a lot.”

While in the country for 13 months and six days, Blaylock was an MP team leader who ran 249 missions all over Iraq. Today, Blaylock is a parole agent in Lee County for the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

“One mission was to keep delivering to Kelly (Trent) his favorite vices,” Blaylock said, laughing. “That would be Mountain Dews, Oreos and Doritos.”

Missing families

Many of those deployed left behind spouses and children. It was not easy on the soldiers, but families stateside suffered as well.

Tim Hamby served 21 years in the National Guard and three years on active duty. He retired from the National Guard Senatobia Unit in 2021.

In 2005, Hamby left behind wife, Kerrie, and three children, who at the time were 6, 8 and 10.

“The oldest two knew where I was and didn’t like it at all,” Hamby said. “Their ears were wide open, always listening for what was going on in Iraq. The youngest just knew I was gone for a long time.”

Hamby said he and his fellow soldiers always tried to downplay any potential danger so that their families back home wouldn’t worry.

“One time in particular, I had come off a mission and called my wife. I told her things were great. Ten seconds later, we were mortared,” he said. “She kept asking what it was. I didn’t answer, just told her I had to go and hung up.”

Jesse Cornelius served in the National Guard a few months shy of 22 years.

When he deployed in 2005, Cornelius left his wife, Kristy, and two children.

“My oldest had started kindergarten just after I left, so was about 5,” he said. “My youngest then was 18 months old. I was home for his third birthday; he didn’t know who I was when I came home.”

Cornelius said his wife grew more and more independent during his absence, even selling a house and buying a new one.

Rob Edwards is a 28-year veteran of the National Guard who retired in 2021. Edwards deployed in 2004 with the 112th MP Battalion in Canton. His civilian job at the time was as a police officer with the Tupelo Police Department.

His wife, Kimberly, was fairly acclimated to her husband’s deployment.

“She was a military brat, so she at least knew what to expect,” said Edwards, a father of three boys, who in 2005 were ages 4, 7 and 9. “I have to commend the school system in Saltillo. They were so supportive. They knew when I was gone, and if they noticed any change in the boys’ habits, they were quick to let my wife know. And my family also had a great support system at our church, Calvary Baptist.”

Edwards believes his deployments, while not ideal and certainly the cause of some worry, had an overall positive effect on his sons.

“My deployments gave my kids a bigger world picture,” he said,. adding that his wife used Edwards’ deployment to teach their sons about the Middle East. “My family watched TV like hawks. And my wife had a big map of Iraq on the wall for the boys to see.”

Kelly said he always told his wife, Sheila, that he was “in the rear with the gear” to let her know he was safe.

“That, of course, was not always true,” he said “But we didn’t want to worry our loved ones back home.”

Kelly had a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old when he deployed in 2005. A third child was born Sept. 22, 2005, while Kelly was in Iraq.

“The first time I saw him, he was 3 months old,” Kelly said. “We met outside the gate at Camp Shelby.”

Bad times, good times

When asked about a worst day during their time in Iraq, the answers are as diverse as the soldiers’ personalities.

Terry Fortune, then a member of the Itawamba County Sheriff’s Department who initially served six months in Iraq before leaving when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, can describe in vivid, terrifying detail his own memory of four friends who were injured when their Humvee ran over an improvised Explosive Device (IED).

With no exception, every soldier interviewed for this story mentioned the Humvee accident as one of the worst days.

For Kelly, the worst days were holidays and the joyful birth of his son while he was in Iraq.

“The holidays when deployed are immensely lonely,” he said.

Kenneth Anthony joined the Guard in 1988 and remains active 36 years later. He offered a specific date for his worst day.

“February 14, 2005,” he said. “I was on Route San Juan when we were hit by an IED. No one was injured, but when something explodes right in front of you, it does something to you.”

Despite the IEDs, mortar attacks, awful dry heat, there were good days — a lot of them.

“Getting home was the best day,” Kelly said. “And in Iraq, any day that was routine was a good day.”

On those routine days when things were calm, the soldiers found things to do to pass the time.

“We played cards, watched movies, played Xbox,” said Hamby, who now works as a Mississippi Department of Corrections supervising agent for probation and parole in Lee County. “We also pulled some good practical jokes on each other. And there was a small gym where we would lift weights. We made the best out of the situation.”

Cornelius was more pragmatic.

“A best day is every day we are not shot at,” he said. “And when troops started heading home was a good day. And this was not in Iraq, but while home on leave, I got to go to D.C. to Walter Reed (military hospital) and pin Purple Hearts on Brooks and Yancy. That was a great day.”

William Brooks and David Yancy were two of the four injured when their Humvee rolled over an IED.

Change is inevitable

The last U.S. combat troops left Iraq on Dec. 18, 2011. Iraq, however, didn’t leave them.

Jackie Moreno Roland, now a Hattiesburg police officer, volunteered in 2005 to deploy with the 155th. She continues to serve in the National Guard and has for 20 years.

When she returned to her home unit after the 2005 deployment, having come home on the last flight out of Iraq with Gen. Collins, Roland realized she could not go through all they had in Iraq and not be changed.

“I know since then I have much more appreciation for what I have,” she said. “I think of the Iraqi kids who would get so excited when we gave them pencils and other school supplies.”

Kelly agreed the experience in 2005 likely wrought changes for all those who served.

“Everybody has some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We just had to reset to a new normal,” he said, just before breaking into a laugh. “It doesn’t seem like it has been 20 years. I see these people; they got old, and I didn’t.”

Blaylock said his entire outlook on life changed after Iraq.

“It seems like just yesterday,” he said. “We were youngsters. Now we’re all getting old.”

Hamby said he has a greater appreciation for life and for what family really means.

“I know I missed a lot of things,” he said. “They don’t say anything, but I can see it in my kids’ eyes.”

Cornelius, now a sheep farmer who owns C4 Livestock and worked closely with Iraqi farmers in 2005, freely shared that he suffers from some PTSD.

“I don’t like being around a lot of people,” he said. “Also, there are some things you can’t unsee, and there are some things you wish you could see again.”

Edwards learned some new skills that have stayed with him throughout his career, thanks to cultural awareness training.

“I learned to speak a little Arabic,” he said. “I learned if you sit and talk with people, like the Iraqis, you quickly understand they are just everyday guys and women like we are. They were oppressed by Saddam Hussein and did not understand the concept of freedom.”

Edwards’ time in Iraq strengthened his faith, his relationships with his wife and other family members, and it made him appreciate life in the United States so much more.

“It also gave me a greater appreciation of rain,” he said. “And other cultures. Holy cow, so much of what we hear about other cultures is not even true. You learn that when you meet them where they are.”

Rhodes, who works with Corinth Gas & Water, said he no longer takes anything in his life for granted. He’s learned to appreciate all he has, both large and small.

“My dreams have also changed,” he said. “I dream of sleeping in a warm bed, eating a home-cooked meal and having time with my family.”

He’s also proud of what the 155th ABCT did in 2005.

“We succeeded in that we left Iraq better than we found it,” he said. “We helped restore police/army presence, enemy activity was reduced and schools were rebuilt or refurbished.”

Cornelius agreed.

“We did what we were supposed to do, and things were better when we left,” he said. “We did our jobs and did them well. It cost us, but we got it done.”

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