Biography
Paul Rieckhoff, author of "Chasing Ghosts," served in Iraq as a First Lieutenant with the 3rd Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions. He graduated from Amherst College with a degree in political science. After college, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves on September 15, 1998, completing Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and was assigned to the 812th Military Police Company. In 1999, Paul took a position with J.P. Morgan and transferred to the New York Army National Guard. Rising to the rank of Specialist, he entered Officer Candidate School (OCS), graduating in June 2001 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Choosing Infantry as his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), he was assigned to A Company, 1/105th Infantry, a light infantry unit. On September 11, 2001, Paul was in his Manhattan apartment when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. He quickly donned his gear and voluntarily assisted in rescue operations at the site; his unit was activated that evening for rescue and security tasks. In January 2003, Paul's unit deployed to Iraq, where he served as platoon leader for 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3/124th, an air assault infantry unit. He chronicled his Iraq experience in his book. Upon returning, frustrated by the lack of support for veterans, Paul founded and became executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of veterans and their families by addressing critical issues such as mental health, an overstretched VA system, inadequate healthcare for female veterans, and GI Bill benefits. He also serves on the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and their Families.
