Tyler Boudreau
Encyclopedia
Tyler E. Boudreau is an American author who writes about his experiences in the Marine Corps and in the Iraq War, especially the impact the war had on himself and the other Marines. Boudreau served for twelve and a half years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps.
in 1989 for four years, after which he returned to Massachusetts
to attend Worcester State College
. In 1994, he joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
at the College of the Holy Cross
, and upon graduation, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in 1997. Returning to the infantry
, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander, and then went on to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
to train new recruits in San Diego.
On March 1, 2004 Captain Boudreau deployed to Iraq
as the Assistant Operations Officer for 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines
(2/2) based in Camp Lejeune
, North Carolina
. The 2/2's Area of Operations (AO) in Iraq
was initially the Northern Babil province, directly south of Baghdad
. They moved to the southern border of Fallujah
in April 2004 for the limited attacks that occurred during the first siege of Fallujah. After the siege was lifted they moved again to As Sadan located along the Euphrates River just south of Abu Ghraib
in al Anbar province. Finally they returned to Northern Babil, from where they ultimately redeployed to the United States
October 2004.
), and prepared to deploy
again to Iraq
. But by April 2005, his concerns about the war combined with his deep affection for his Marines, made him unable to remain in uniform any longer. He relinquished his command and resigned
his commission.
Tyler Boudreau's final assignment was the OIC for 2nd Marine Regiment rear echelon. During this period he served as the sole Casualty Assistance Calls Officer
for the regiment and its organic battalions. He spent his final days in the Marine Corps
calling parents and wives to let them know their Marines
had been wounded in war. After leaving the Marines, Boudreau wrote his first book, Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine about his experiences in the Marine Corps and in War
.
as part of his "The Other Side" Cycle Tour. During this effort to re-acquaint himself with the land, reintegrate with his community and family, and positively re-invest his strength in America
, he was joined periodically by other veterans and non-veterans and took part in community discussions about the ongoing wars along the way. The trip began in Seattle on June 15, 2009 and concluded 77 days later in Northampton, MA on August 30, 2009. The length of the trip was over 3400 miles.
In hopes of broadening the discourse, deepening the understanding, and bettering the state of our democracy
, he shared his experiences with the American people and other veterans. "The Other Side" project was about the actual nature of warfare and searching for what's on "the other side" of the battle
field: "the veterans who find themselves hurled suddenly to the other side of a catastrophic injury, or Post-Traumatic Stress, or an inexplicably dysfunctional life in the aftermath of war." A fresh attempt at "coming home," he rode in search of "the other side" of the great mythology
associated with battle
, traveling to the other side of the country to find the other side of himself. Veterans of the current wars and their communities have been struggling to find each other but are in so many ways blinded or blocked by political and cultural barriers. A major objective of this project was to get to "the other side" of those barriers and find home — possibly a better version of home, as a better version of himself.
2010, Tyler Boudreau joined "The Memorial Challenge Ride to Recovery", a 275 mile bicycle ride from Washington, DC to Virginia Beach to benefit injured veterans across the country and inspire them to incorporate cycling into their recovery process, increase awareness about the challenges of returning from war for veterans, and raise money to improve their care. Tyler was sponsored by Give An Hour, a non-profit organization
that provides free mental health services to US military personnel and families affected by the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan
.
Life and career
He enlisted as an infantryman in the MarinesUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in 1989 for four years, after which he returned to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to attend Worcester State College
Worcester State College
Worcester State University is a public, four-year college founded in 1874 as Worcester Normal School in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. Although WSC traditionally has an emphasis on education, business, and biotechnology, the College offers Bachelors and Masters degrees in over 20 academic...
. In 1994, he joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program is a college-based, commissioned officer training program of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.-Origins:...
at the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
, and upon graduation, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 1997. Returning to the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander, and then went on to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and the former Naval Training Center San Diego...
to train new recruits in San Diego.
On March 1, 2004 Captain Boudreau deployed to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
as the Assistant Operations Officer for 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines
2nd Battalion 2nd Marines
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines is a light infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Also known as "Warlord", it consists of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors and normally falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Regiment and...
(2/2) based in Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The 2/2's Area of Operations (AO) in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
was initially the Northern Babil province, directly south of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. They moved to the southern border of Fallujah
Fallujah
Fallujah is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jewish academies for many centuries....
in April 2004 for the limited attacks that occurred during the first siege of Fallujah. After the siege was lifted they moved again to As Sadan located along the Euphrates River just south of Abu Ghraib
Abu Ghraib
The city of Abu Ghraib in the Baghdad Governorate of Iraq is located just west of Baghdad's city center, or northwest of Baghdad International Airport. It has a population of 189,000. The old road to Jordan passes through Abu Ghraib...
in al Anbar province. Finally they returned to Northern Babil, from where they ultimately redeployed to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
October 2004.
Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine
After his return from Iraq, Tyler Boudreau assumed command of a rifle company (Fox Company, 2/22nd Battalion 2nd Marines
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines is a light infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Also known as "Warlord", it consists of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors and normally falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Regiment and...
), and prepared to deploy
Military deployment
Military deployment is the movement of armed forces and their logistical support infrastructure around the world.-United States:The United States Military defines the term as follows:...
again to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. But by April 2005, his concerns about the war combined with his deep affection for his Marines, made him unable to remain in uniform any longer. He relinquished his command and resigned
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
his commission.
Tyler Boudreau's final assignment was the OIC for 2nd Marine Regiment rear echelon. During this period he served as the sole Casualty Assistance Calls Officer
Casualty Notification
Casualty notification is the process of notifying relatives of people who have been killed or seriously injured unexpectedly...
for the regiment and its organic battalions. He spent his final days in the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
calling parents and wives to let them know their Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
had been wounded in war. After leaving the Marines, Boudreau wrote his first book, Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine about his experiences in the Marine Corps and in War
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
.
"Desensitization doesn't eliminate morality from the consciousness. It merely postpones cogitation. Sooner or later, when a man's had a chance to think things over, he will find himself standing in judgement before his own conscience." Tyler Boudreau |
Advanced Praise
"I don't know another book on any subject, let alone on war, let alone on Iraq or the Corps, that combines such breathtaking candor and self-awareness with such impressive insight and extremely good writing, as well. Riveting, engrossing, simply terrific, a page-turner." - Daniel Ellsberg Daniel Ellsberg Daniel Ellsberg, PhD, is a former United States military analyst who, while employed by the RAND Corporation, precipitated a national political controversy in 1971 when he released the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret Pentagon study of U.S. government decision-making in relation to the Vietnam War,... |
"Tyler Boudreau is the real deal. His personal story of what it's like to know the 'ground truth' of the war in Iraq chills the soul. This is a must read for any of us who care about our country and our soldiers in harms way." - Max Cleland Max Cleland Joseph Maxwell Cleland is an American politician from Georgia. Cleland, a Democrat, is a disabled US Army veteran of the Vietnam War, a recipient of the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for valorous action in combat, and a former U.S. Senator... |
“What do you get when you combine The Things They Carried The Things They Carried The Things They Carried is a collection of related stories by Tim O'Brien, about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, originally published in hardcover by Houghton Mifflin, 1990... and Dispatches with the unblinking, crystalline style of Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist... ? You get Packing Inferno. Boudreau has a gift for vivid scene and narrative pace, and brings those together with something very rare: an unblinking sight of what’s right and what's not in this war, in his Marines, and in himself. There is a clarity in his words that will not leave you alone. You will definitely feel your time has been well spent.” - Jonathan Shay Jonathan Shay Jonathan Shay is a doctor and clinical psychiatrist. He holds a B.A from Harvard and an M.D. and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. His early medical work was with the behaviour of brain cells in and after strokes, but after suffering a stroke and financial hard times, he began work... , MD Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools... , PhD PHD PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer... , author of Achilles in Vietnam and Odysseus in America, MacArthur Fellow |
"Tyler Boudreau lives now to help the rest of us see the monstrous face of war as clearly as he does. Alas, it is our own face, which we fail to recognize. This bravely truthful book is an urgently needed cure for America's chosen blindness about the war to which this nation condemns its young." - James Carroll James Carroll James Carroll may refer to:* James Carroll * James Carroll , Irish independent politician, represented Dublin South West from 1957–1965... , author of House of War |
Reviews
- Tyler E Boudreau: "The Unmaking of a Marine" by Jason LeopoldJason LeopoldJason Leopold is an American investigative reporter. Leopold is known for his work at Truthout as a senior editor and reporter, a position he left after three years on February 19, 2008 to co-found the web-based political magazine, The Public Record, according to an email sent to his readers....
(Truthout, March 29, 2009) - The Unmaking of a Marine: Tour in Iraq left ex-Marine questioning the mission by Pamela H. Sacks (Worcester Star Telegram, March 1, 2009)
- Packing Inferno, Tyler Boudreau by Cho (ePluribus Media, September 11, 2008)
The Other Side Cycle Tour
Over the summer of 2009, Tyler Boudreau cycled from Washington to MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
as part of his "The Other Side" Cycle Tour. During this effort to re-acquaint himself with the land, reintegrate with his community and family, and positively re-invest his strength in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he was joined periodically by other veterans and non-veterans and took part in community discussions about the ongoing wars along the way. The trip began in Seattle on June 15, 2009 and concluded 77 days later in Northampton, MA on August 30, 2009. The length of the trip was over 3400 miles.
In hopes of broadening the discourse, deepening the understanding, and bettering the state of our democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, he shared his experiences with the American people and other veterans. "The Other Side" project was about the actual nature of warfare and searching for what's on "the other side" of the battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
field: "the veterans who find themselves hurled suddenly to the other side of a catastrophic injury, or Post-Traumatic Stress, or an inexplicably dysfunctional life in the aftermath of war." A fresh attempt at "coming home," he rode in search of "the other side" of the great mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
associated with battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
, traveling to the other side of the country to find the other side of himself. Veterans of the current wars and their communities have been struggling to find each other but are in so many ways blinded or blocked by political and cultural barriers. A major objective of this project was to get to "the other side" of those barriers and find home — possibly a better version of home, as a better version of himself.
Other Works
- Troubled Minds and Purple Hearts, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(January 25, 2009) - To Kill or Not to Kill, The ProgressiveThe ProgressiveThe Progressive is an American monthly magazine of politics, culture and progressivism with a pronounced liberal perspective on some issues. Known for its pacifism, it has strongly opposed military interventions, such as the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The magazine also devotes much coverage...
(February 2009) - Another Word on the Black and Purple Hearts, Tyler Boudreau's Journal: Psychatrix (February 2, 2009)
- The Military's Post Traumatic Stress Dilemma, The Boston GlobeThe Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
(March 9, 2009) - The Primacy of Healing: Politics and Combat Stress in America, Truthout (April 28, 2009)
- War Stories in Future Memory, Valley Advocate, The Public Humanist (May 21, 2009)
- Fratricide in Baghdad, Truthout (May 28, 2009)
- Help Those Who Helped Us by Tyler Boudreau and Luis Carlos Montalvan, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(June 17, 2008) - IT v. Initiative: The Internet Age Comes to the Battlefield (PDF), The Industry StandardThe Industry StandardThe Industry Standard is a news web site dedicated to technology business news, part of InfoWorld, a news web site covering technology in general...
(June 25, 2008) - US Must Keep its Word: The Iraq Refugee Crisis, The Seattle TimesThe Seattle TimesThe Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
by Tyler Boudreau and Luis Carlos Montalvan (July 16, 2008) - Offering Relief for Iraq's Refugees (PDF) by Tyler Boudreau and Luis Carlos Montalvan, Daily Hampshire GazetteDaily Hampshire GazetteThe Daily Hampshire Gazette is a six-day morning daily newspaper based in Northampton, Massachusetts, and covering all of Hampshire County and southern towns of Franklin County, Massachusetts...
(July 22, 2008) - From Jordan: Iraqis Need Our Help by Tyler Boudreau and Luis Carlos Montalvan, The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
(August 14, 2008) - A Task from God: Sarah Palin on the War in Iraq, ePluribus Media (September 16, 2008)
The 100 Faces of War Experience
Tyler Boudreau is the 14th portrait in the 100 Faces of War Experience: Portraits & Words of Americans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boudreau's written statement is called, "The Dangers of Introspection." The project is an exploration of the human experience of going from America abroad into the wars and each portrait in the series is accompanied by words chosen by the person pictured, or for the families of those in posthumous portraits.- 100 Faces of War by Tyler Boudreau, Journal Psychatrix (October 9, 2008)
- 100 Faces of War Experience: Portraits & Words by Bob Meagher, The Valley Advocate (May 19, 2009)
- One Hundred Faces of War Gives Soldiers a Voice by KOSU News (May 30, 2010)
Media Appearances, etc
- The Low Information War: Interview with Tim Einenkel (PDF), Air America RadioAir America RadioAir America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
(November 13, 2008) - CNN Report on Collaboraive Revolution (video), November 11, 2008
- Capital Tonight News on Packing Inferno (video)
- CBS News on Tyler Boudreau's Trip to Jordan and Iraq Refugee Crisis (video)
- Tyler Boudreau Addresses City Council on Potential War in Iran (video)
Now
Tyler Boudreau currently lives in western Massachusetts, writing, biking and working on a variety of veterans issues in his community. On Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
2010, Tyler Boudreau joined "The Memorial Challenge Ride to Recovery", a 275 mile bicycle ride from Washington, DC to Virginia Beach to benefit injured veterans across the country and inspire them to incorporate cycling into their recovery process, increase awareness about the challenges of returning from war for veterans, and raise money to improve their care. Tyler was sponsored by Give An Hour, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that provides free mental health services to US military personnel and families affected by the current conflicts in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
See also
- A Former Marine Discusses IT in Iraq (PDF) by Lee Gomes (The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, July 1, 2008) - US Vets Return to Middle East to Help Iraqi Refugees by Karin Zeitvogel (The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, August 5, 2008) - In Jabal al-Jofa, Iraq Vets Sow Seeds of Hope by Karin Zeitvogel (The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, August 8, 2008) - Activist Veteran to Seek Help for Displaced Iraqis (PDF) by James Lowe (Daily Hampshire GazetteDaily Hampshire GazetteThe Daily Hampshire Gazette is a six-day morning daily newspaper based in Northampton, Massachusetts, and covering all of Hampshire County and southern towns of Franklin County, Massachusetts...
, August 13, 2008) - Skateboarders See Way to Help Iraqi Kids by Bob Flaherty, Daily Hampshire Gazette (September 19, 2008)
- Volunteering for duty: Veterans of the Iraq War try to complete their mission in a new way - charity by Anna Badkhen (Boston Globe, February 15, 2009)
- Former Marine explores conversations on war by Katelyn Gendron, The Reminder Online
- Marine veteran to speak candidly about war by Katelyn Gendron, The Reminder Online