When Shakespeare wrote, “Although she be however little, she is fierce!” he might have been speaking about Lilia Wensink, a particular agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI).
Wensink, a Sergeant First Class within the U.S. Military, volunteered to drive the path automobile within the convoy whereas she was serving in Iraq. Wensink defined that the path automobile is the final within the convoy and it maintains safety and retains the opposite autos protected. All of the autos in a convoy usually have gunners. If one of many autos in a convoy hits an improvised explosive gadget (IED), the path automobile gives safety till assist arrives. On Feb. 22, 2006, Wensink remembers a very treacherous convoy journey, for which she acquired the Motion Fight Badge.
Wensink was offering safety for the third convoy automobile, which didn’t have a gunner. Whereas en path to the Inexperienced Zone, the well-fortified district in Baghdad that served as the bottom of U.S. operations, the convoy staff got here below assault. “We have been passing Iraqi residents’ properties when insurgents started to fireside. They have been on the rooftops taking pictures AK 47s. Because the path automobile driver, I needed to push the third Humvee out of the kill zone. I radioed my gunner and instructed him to ‘hearth at will’ on the rooftops for cover. In the meantime, I had an Iraqi basic in my automobile who was very scared. Afterwards, we noticed that our autos sustained bullet holes on the home windows and turret. God was watching over us,” mentioned Wensink.
After arriving safely within the Inexperienced Zone, “the Iraqi basic gave me a hug and patted me on the again and mentioned, ‘I need you as my driver.’ I used to be very honored,” mentioned Wensink.
Wensink additionally acquired the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious efficiency whereas deployed in a fight zone assigned to the Multi-Nationwide Safety Transition Command – Iraq from Sept.12, 2005 to Sept. 12, 2006. The multinational drive’s mission was to coach, equip and maintain Iraqi Safety Forces such that they’d have the ability to conduct counterterrorism operations on their very own. “[Its] mission was central to the USA exit technique,” mentioned Wensink.
Previous to Wensink’s deployment to the Center East, she was stationed at MacDill Air Pressure Base. She instructed her HSI colleagues that she supposed to go to Iraq, drive a tactical truck and are available again with a fight medal.
Wensink mentioned her colleagues humored her. However she had the final chuckle as her plan rolled into movement the day she requested “to go the place the battle is, in Iraq” and the place her son was additionally serving within the U.S. Military on a safety mission.
“I used to be at MacDill on Friday, and on Monday I used to be in Iraq,” mentioned Wensink. Following her plan, Wensink took a crash course in driving a excessive mobility multipurpose wheeled automobile (HMMWV). “I didn’t even know the best way to begin it,” she mentioned. “However they wanted drivers, so I realized.”
“In addition to,” mentioned Wensink, “I used to be too quick to man the 50-caliber weapons, so I drove as an alternative. Driving was a really intense, high-adrenaline job. I had to verify my fellow troopers, sailors, marines, airmen, Iraqi generals, and whoever was driving with us, made it safely again to the Inexperienced Zone.”
“I knew what I used to be stepping into,” mentioned Wensink. “I’ve lived my life, and I loved what I had. If I might drive this automobile and convey again only one child safely so she or he might return to his or her household, that’s what I cared about,” mentioned Wensink, who’s a mom of three; two who’re serving within the U.S. army
The diesel-powered, four-wheel drive tactical HMMWV shouldn’t be your mother’s glorified SUV. The HMMWV is a formidable piece of equipment. It’s used to hold army {hardware} starting from machine weapons to tube-launched, optically tracked, wire command-guided anti-tank missile launchers. It should carry out in all kinds of terrain, from deserts to jungles, for lengthy durations of time, with minimal upkeep. It has to hold its cargo and occupants in security whereas dodging devices of battle — bullets, bombs and mines.
Serving within the Persian Gulf Struggle and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Wensink mentioned she had the pleasure of assembly each Basic Norman Schwarzkopf and Basic Martin Dempsey. “Each have been nice generals,” mentioned Wensink.
Only a portion of the narrative for the Bronze Star Medal that Wensink acquired, states,
“Regardless of her restricted bodily stature, she rapidly mastered using all weapons to incorporate the heavy M2 50-caliber machine gun. Robust and unflappable, she participated in over 40 fight missions, to incorporate surveys and inspection journeys in quest of potential services for Iraqi Safety Forces together with a number of the most harmful routes throughout Iraq. Figuring out and monitoring these websites have been essential to constructing Iraqi safety drive infrastructure. Sergeant Wensink was acknowledged for her excellent convoy abilities and was chosen to help within the coaching of newly arrived Military, Navy, and Air drive personnel…Her confirmed fight expertise coupled together with her in depth regulation enforcement background ensured that each one replacements have been skilled in a extremely environment friendly, protected and efficient method. A workhorse who thrived on challenges and adversity, Sergeant Wensink vastly impressed everybody she labored with, subordinates and superiors alike. Her initiative, extremely efficient management, competence and customary sense method to disaster administration in a fight zone have been exemplary.”
How did her son react when his mom acquired the Bronze Star Medal? Who would suspect mom and son, each offering safety in the identical battle theater on the similar time, can be engaged in good-natured competitors? “At first, he was a bit jealous,” mentioned Wensink, with a slight smile. “However, he was additionally very pleased with me.”