| Sources |
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 4 Jun 2003.
Loy L. Mize obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 4 Jan 2005.
Local soldier describes his time in Iraq
By:KEITH JONES, Sports Writer January 04, 2005
U.S. Marine Tyler Arwood
Editor's Note: This story came about after Sports Writer Keith Jones answered a phone call from U.S. Marine Tyler Arwood in Iraq Tuesday afternoon. Arwood was a member of the wrestling and soccer teams at Pigeon Forge High School and graduated from there two years ago. Arwood received a Christmas package from Sports Editor Jim Davis on Christmas Eve and was calling via satellite phone to express his thanks, especially for the Pop-Ice popsicles that he drank because he couldn't freeze them.
Sevier County's Tyler Arwood rang in the new year in Iraq.
The 20-year-old son of Jim Arwood, of Seymour, and Sharon Arwood, of Sevierville, is two years removed from the carefree days at Pigeon Forge High School. He's carrying a much heavier load now as part of Bravo Company, 1st Regiment, 4th Marines in Iraq.
Arwood went through basic training at Parris Island, S.C., infantry training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and his home base is Camp Pendleton, Calif. He arrived in Kuwait in early July and went into Iraq two weeks later.
"I've seen a lot in the last six months," he said.
Arwood was near last week's suicide bombing of the mess tent in Mosul.
"I was about five miles away and I heard it," he said. "I didn't know what it was at the time, and I didn't know what to think."
A typical day includes regular tasks, but danger is always present.
"I wake up about 11 a.m., go on post, and usually get about six hours of sleep a night," he said.
Arwood also goes on patrols frequently. He's stationed in Karbala now and said things are generally good.
But he's also seen his share of devastation and even had a few close calls.
"In August we were in a three-day firefight in Najaf," Arwood said. "It was hell, literally."
His most harrowing situation came when an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) landed about six feet behind him and exploded.
"It knocked me out for a few seconds and slammed me into a wall," Arwood said. "The only thing that saved me was I was between two tombstones in a cemetery when it happened.
"Besides the action, it was hot, really hot," he continued. "A typical day in August here is 130 degrees, and the nights are 110 degrees in full gear.
"It's even hard to keep water cool to drink," Arwood said. "We were drinking 120-degree water.
"It's hard to even think about food, but you have to eat," he said. "With that kind of heat, it's hard for your stomach to hold it down. It's also a struggle to sleep."
Now, Arwood said daytime temperatures are around 60 degrees, and the thermometer dips to about 20 degrees at night.
Arwood said the people of Iraq react differently to U.S. troops, but he wouldn't elaborate.
He did say his unit took over a prison a while back.
"We were living in prison cells for about a month," said Arwood. "We took it over for a base and popped up tents around it."
Sharon Arwood said her son calls her regularly and has been able to do so about every day for the past several weeks.
"I can tell he's grown up a lot," she said. "He was near Fallujah recently, and I could tell by his voice that he was nervous about going in there.
"There had been a lot of car bombings in that area, and he seemed tentative about it. I could tell he was about to see how bad it must really get over there."
Tyler Arwood said he should be home for a month beginning in early April.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 15 Mar 2005.
Local soldier on leave from Iraq
Tyler Arwood returns home after serving with Bravo company
SEVIERVILLE - It was an unusually warm Saturday afternoon when friends and family gathered to greet Tyler Arwood as he returned home from his duty in Iraq. But, according to Tyler, the day was not as warm as those days in the Middle Eastern desert.
"Hot, hot, hot," Tyler said in describing his duty as a Marine in the country now trying to discover democracy.
Tyler left last May for his duty, and his mother said it was an emotional time knowing the dangers her son faced.
"He served in the Bravo company," Sharon Arwood said. "It was one of the most emotional experiences I've ever had."
Sharon said the good part was he was able to keep in touch on a fairly regular basis.
Tyler served in a company responsible for finding terrorists and scouting for roadside bombs around the Fallujah area, one of the most hazardous places for American troops.
"I was proud of him and scared for him at the same time," Sharon said.
According to Tyler, the training the troops receive is so intense that everything comes naturally when crises occur.
"It becomes second nature," Tyler said. "When something happens, you don't think about it, you just do it."
Sharon remarked that since being home for a week, Tyler is still uncomfortable sleeping without his weapon at his side.
While serving with Bravo company, Tyler was not immune to the horror of seeing comrades lose their lives on the battlefield. He can give you the names, dates and places of the two who were killed in his company while he was there.
"It is a devastating feeling," Tyler said. "You become so close. You're like family."
He will return to a stateside Marine base after his leave here is complete and may even return to the Middle East. He said the mission in Iraq is important and necessary.
"We can't pull out until the job gets done," Tyler said.
Tyler Arwood embraces his mother, Sharon, during a reception Saturday welcoming the Marine home from duty in Iraq.
- [S80] Rawlings Funeral Home, (http://www.rawlingsfuneralhome.com/), `, 31 Mar 2007.
Bonnie Whaley Justus obituary
- [S84] E-Mail, Sharon Arwood [shartm@live.com], 15 Feb 2010.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
ARWOOD JAMES E SHARON J NOT GIVEN SEVIER 12-12-1983 54457
|
Search | Advanced Search
1984 - (39 years)
[6]