Spring Break
ECU students return home from Iraq
After a seven month stay, USMC soldiers are back in town
Natalie Jurgen
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: News
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Guthrie and Warren were both deployed out of Camp Lejeune in August of 2007 for a seven month stay 60 miles outside of Baghdad.
Just two days after ECU's 2007 commencement ceremonies, Guthrie and Warren received the news that they would be leaving the comforts of ECU to fight for their country overseas.
Guthrie and Warren went for two months of training and in August were deployed together. Initially, Cpl. Warren was on the roster to be sent to Kuwait, however, plans changed and Warren was sent to a combat zone in Iraq.
"You just have to roll with the punches," Warren said about the change of plans. "Things don't always go as planned in the military."
Both Warren and Guthrie are back in school at ECU since their return home and each have three semesters left before graduation.
"I've never been so excited to go to school," Guthrie said. "After serving and seeing that some people lead such simple lives has really made me value education."
Guthrie and Warren's time in Iraq was an eye-opening experience for both of them.
"I was definitely hesitant at first," Guthrie said. "I had to put my whole life on hold. However, nothing has been better then to go for a year. It really is a humbling experience; you don't get that in school."
Both Guthrie and Warren are happy with their time spent in Iraq and feel they made the right decision to join the Marines.
"If it came up that we had to go to Afghanistan, I probably wouldn't volunteer, but I definitely would be honored to go," Guthrie said.
This writer can be contacted at news@theeeastcarolinian.com
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