Travis Platt, a U.S. Army staff sergeant and native of South River, led over 30 soldiers in combat in Iraq, collectively recovering more than 50 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) while carrying out a variety of missions.
Travis Platt For that service, Platt was awarded the Bronze Star upon his return to the United States recently.
“It’s something to be proud of,” said his grandmother, Matilda Apel.
Apel, who still resides in the New Street home where Platt grew up, said she did not follow media coverage of the war while her 26- year-old grandson was in Iraq, in order to avoid additional worry over his safety.
“When he calls on the telephone, the
main thing I want to know is, he’s OK,” Apel said. “The main thing that I want to know is that he is feeling good.”
Platt decided to join the Army after he met recruiters who came to his high school, Apel said. He left for training after graduating with honors from Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School in 2000.
“He graduated in June, and on July 5 the van picked himup and took himto Fort Dix,” Apel said. “From there, they shifted him to [Fort Benning, in] Georgia for basic training.”
Platt was then stationed at the Korean Demilitarized Zone [DMZ] before being deployed to the Al Anbar province in Iraq for his first tour of duty there fromAugust 2004 to July 2005. His second tour in Iraq was from October 2006 to this past December.
“It was a harder fight the second time,” Platt said in a phone interview from Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Looking back, he said there was no particular reason for his decision to join the Army.
“There was really no inspiration,” Platt said. “It was just something I wanted to do.”
Platt served as platoon sergeant for the 2nd platoon, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Locating and disarming IEDs was just part of his job.
“I’mnotmost proud of any of that,” Platt said. “I mean, that is just something I do. I’m most proud of leading 32 soldiers in combat.”
Platt received the Bronze Star medal in December, but an official ceremony is still pending. He explained the reason that he was awarded the honor with valor.
“It was for willingly putting my life in danger,” Platt said.
His second tour of duty was in southern Baghdad and the neighboring Al Dora province.
“Six months ago, it was the most highly contested area in all of Baghdad and all of Iraq,” Platt said.
The soldiers in his 2nd Platoon Bravo Company were successful in locating more than 50 IEDs in 15 months.
“It’s probably the most IEDs found by any unit,” he said. Platt’s company located 18 IEDs in one two-night mission, and his platoon is credited with finding 12 of those 18, he added, calling that the group’s “greatest achievement.”
The time it took soldiers to dig up the IEDs depended on the situation.
“It all depends,” Platt said. “Some are buried, some are not. If it’s been in there for a while and it’s hard-packed in there, you have got to sit there and dig in the road. Dig, find it, and then blow it up.”
Removing IEDs was only part of any givenmission involvingmovement fromone area to another, he noted.
“It wasn’t tasking,” Platt said. “It was not to go out there and remove IEDs. You have to conduct this mission, and to get from point A to B, there are possibly three bombs in the road.”
Platt acknowledged Staff Sgt. Gabriel Temples, of Gilmer, Texas, who was in his platoon at the time, but moved on to another in a leadership role. He noted Temples’ service in removing IEDs and fighting insurgents as exemplary.
Platt said his own service in theArmy is his career.
“I’mgoing to stay in theArmy as long as I can,” he said. “I like the Army. It’s what I do.”
His 27-year-old brother, Kevin, agreed Travis has found his niche in the Army.
“I’m very proud of him and whatever he does,” Kevin said. “I’m very happy for him and proud of him, and I hope that he keeps up the good work.”
With the possibility that Platt will return to Iraq again next year for a third tour of duty, Apel said that no matter where he goes, his family will be sure to enjoy the little time that they get to spend with him, including his expected trip home nextmonth.
“I’m very proud and he’s got a brother and two sisters and they are very proud of him,” Apel said. “He’s got a lot of cousins that are very proud of him. Every time he comes home, the family is going to be here. The whole family is going to have a dinner with him. In February, we are going to celebrate Christmas.”