Abstract
Serving as her company’s convoy commander during the Iraq War, former Captain Gemma McGowan recounts her experience as a young Lieutenant at the time, leading her soldiers in a convoy of HUMVEEs from Kuwait to Iraq. She emphasizes the importance of maintenance and the responsibilities that came with her leadership position.
My HUMVEE Story | by Captain Gemma McGowan
The HUMVEE was an integral part of my entire Army experience and story. I recently wrote a book about our deployment to Iraq in 2004. In it, I capture the experiences of my platoon, as I served as the convoy commander, leading our HUMVEEs and other military vehicles from Kuwait into the combat zone of Baghdad, Iraq. The HUMVEE played a vital role in ensuring our safety and giving us a sense of reliability, even in the heart of the combat zone.
During the three-day convoy, I came to understand firsthand just how crucial maintenance was. Our lives depended on the vehicles staying operational. If we broke down, we would be sitting ducks for the enemy and vulnerable to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). As a young Lieutenant, I was responsible for 18 vehicles and about 50 soldiers, all of whom I needed to get to Iraq safely.
After leaving the Army as a Captain, I continued my service overseas, working for the U.S. Army as a Department of the Army Civilian in Germany for the next 19 years. One day, while driving on the German autobahn, I spotted a trailer carrying HUMVEEs, possibly for maintenance. To my amazement, I recognized the bumper numbers—they were the very same HUMVEEs I had driven into Iraq so many years ago. It felt like running into an old battle buddy, a truly full-circle moment.
Gemma McGowan served 4 years in the Active Duty Army and has since
worked as a Department of the Army Civilian for 23 years.
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