Paul Rieckhoff

Paul Rieckhoff is the author of "Chasing Ghosts". He served in Iraq as a member of the 3rd Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions as a First Lieutenant. Paul is a graduate of Amherst College, where he studied political science. After his graduation he entered into military service with the U.S. Army Reserves on September 15th, 1998 and completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was assigned to 812th Military Police Company. In 1999 Paul accepted a position with J.P. Morgan and was transferred to the New York Army National Guard. After rising to the rank of Specialist he entered Officer Candidate School (OCS) graduating in June 2001 and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. Selecting Infantry as his MOS he was assigned to A Company, 1/105th INF, a light infantry unit. September 11, 2001 Paul was in apartment on Manhattan when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Paul donned his gear and voluntarily went to the complex to offer assistance in rescue operations, his unit was activated for rescue and security operations that evening. January 2003 Paul's unit was activated for deployment to Iraq where he was assigned platoon leader for 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3/124th, an air assault infantry unit. Paul detailed his experience in Iraq in his book. After his rotation back to the world he became frustrated with the lack of support for the returning veterans. Paul founded and became executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a veterans support group with the mission to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families by addressing critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health injuries, a stretched VA system, inadequate health care for female veterans, and GI Bill educational benefits. Paul also serves on the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and their Families.