LV woman’s son a combat medic

Dick Benoit

Thursday, April 22, 2004 | 8:44 a.m.

The son of a Las Vegas woman is changing lives in at least one town in Iraq for the better, according to Army officials.

Army Pfc. Dante Rackley, son of Quay Reed of Las Vegas, is a member of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The unit is charged with keeping the peace and protecting the lives, property and new-found freedom of residents of Kirkuk and its surrounding communities.

The 2nd Battalion serves a dual role that has soldiers working door-to-door and face-to-face with the people of Kirkuk as a local police force, while providing protection for the city in the form of Howitzer cannons.

"I'm a combat medic with this field artillery unit," Rackley said. "I ensure all of the soldiers get the medical treatment they need when they're sick or wounded. My fellow soldiers depend on me to keep them healthy so they can accomplish the mission."

Centered in northern Iraq, Kirkuk is the focal point of Iraq's oil industry. This area is considered a cultural hotbed because of the population mix of Turkomans, Kurds and Arabs.

"We're protecting the Iraqis here as they try to rebuild their country," he said. "We go on patrols in the city, conduct raids on suspects' homes to look for illegal arms or signs of criminal activity, assist the local Iraqi police and let the people know we're here to help them."

Rackley knows that for the Iraqis who desire peace and for the American soldiers protecting them, there is much work ahead. The intensity of the mission has this soldier looking forward to returning to the simpler things from life back at home.

"When I get back, I'm going to go see my mom," he said. "I want my family to know that I love and miss them. I also want them to know that they don't need to worry about me -- I'm fine and I'll see them soon."

Rackley is proud of his role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and vows to do whatever is necessary to maintain stability in this region and give the Iraqis the chance to create a free society.

In brief