Devin Stapelman returns from Iraq

By Deanna Anderson
Cedar County News
BELDEN —  When Devin Stapelman arrived back on U.S. soil, he felt some culture shock.
He had left behind a different world — one filled with camels, desert sands, 130 degree temperatures, soldiers and a war.
Stapelman has just finished a nine-month deployment to Iraq.
Before flying home, he was in Kuwait for approximately three days for debriefing and getting his travel arrangements in order.
The flight from Kuwait to Germany took about six hours; Germany to Baltimore was another 12 hours in the air.
After a stop at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, he was back at Schiever Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo., where he is stationed.
He is now spending time with his parents, Brad and Theresa Stapelman, in Belden.
Stapelman said he actually spent 11 months with the other men in his squadron which included soldiers from all over the United States.
“We met up at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash., for two months of training before we left for Iraq,” said Stapelman. “The camaraderie among the men was very good over there.”
Stapelman said he was alongside soldiers you could trust with your very life.
“The soldiers I worked with — you could trust them and rely on them,” said Stapelman who was trained as military police. “You knew they were always there for you. We helped motivate each other.”
Stapelman had four “good” roommates in his pod, which he said was kind of like a trailer house split in two.
“There were four of us,” said Stapelman. “One was from Washington, although he was originally from the Philippines. Another was from D.C., and one was from southern California.”
Stapelman, who worked with area security operations at FOB Camp Bucca, said he saw quite a improvised explosive devices while in Iraq.
Stapelman said the enemy blended in with the regular Iraqi people.
“They do not come out and fight. They stay away from that,” said Stapelman. “I only saw sporadic fighting while I was over there but there were a lot of I.E.D.s, though.”
It was hot and humid in Iraq — two of the soldiers from his unit suffered heat exhaustion.
Stapelman said his camp was right by the Persian Gulf and the temperature was around 130 degrees, and long hours were the norm while he was in Iraq.
The soldiers had six days on and one day off. A day of work was typically 14 hours long.
The soldiers did have some four-day R-Rs (Rest and Relief) though.
Stapelman has been on active duty with the military for two years. He has six years left to serve.
When he gets out of the military. he plans on going to college.
Stapelman attended grade school in Randolph and is a 2005 graduate of Cedar Catholic High School.
Stapelman said he did not really get lonesome while he was living half way around the world.
He was able to keep in touch with his family on a regular basis by calling home using a phone card.
If Stapelman was asked to go back, he said he would not mind being deployed to Iraq again.

“Anyone I talked to — they like us being there,” said Stapelman. “The people were very good to us.”
Stapelman said his nine months in Iraq were a good experience.
“I met some great people while I was over there,” he said.