U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. RUSSELL BASSETT Lt. Col. John Drago, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, from Fort Lewis, Wash., shakes hands with Iraqi 5th Special Troops Commander Maj. Ali Mahmood Abas as Col. Ali Husayn Nema, Al Zahour district police chief, watches during a meeting of U.S. Forces, Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police and Iraqi tribal leaders on Aug. 24 in Rashidiya, Iraq. U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Drago, commander, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, calls himself a “Jersey Guy” committed to serving his country.
Drago, 43, was born in Point Pleasant, spent his early years in Brick Township and eventually moved to Clifton, where he graduated from high school in 1982. His parents, Jim and Toni, are residents of Lakewood.
In a telephone interview arranged by the U.S. Army, Drago spoke with Greater Media Newspapers on Sept. 24 from his location in Iraq. He said it was his dad’s service in Vietnam that influenced him to join the armed forces.
“My father always made known that was an available option,” Drago said. “I went to Lehigh University on an ROTC scholarship, and afterward I was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army. My older brother is West Point graduate and my younger brother also serves as a lieutenant in the Army.”
Drago is regularly stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., but is currently on a fivemonth tour of duty in Taji, Iraq, about 20 miles north of Baghdad. He said the soldiers in his command are responsible for “providing security and stability for the Iraqi people.”
He said his battalion “grounds, or hand owns, a unit area of operation.” Everything in that coverage area is in his view. He reported that “things are going very well” in his service area.
“For the last month we have seen a decline in extremist activity, sectarian violence and anti-coalition activity,” Drago said. “We have increased security and have been assisting with essential services to try and provide the basic needs to the Iraqi population.”
The lieutenant colonel said knowing that his troops’ efforts are supported back home gives them motivation.
“We appreciate all the support of the American public. It’s hard to articulate how far that goes. Our soldiers are doing great things every day. They are faced with difficult challenges, yet they consistently make great decisions, demonstrating compassion and professionalism. I am proud to be commander and to serve with these great Americans,” Drago said.
Drago, husband to Liz, and father to 10-year-old triplets Sani, Julie and Nicole, said when the soldiers are off duty, many of them work out, watch movies or communicate with loved ones from home.
“This allows them to maintain a focus on what they need to do,” he said.
Drago said his unit is maintaining security postures in Taji, which helps to facilitate so many other things brought to the Iraqi people.
Drago said the only other message he wanted to give was a hello to his wife and daughters in Fort Lewis and to his parents in Lakewood, and a “Go, Yankees” to fans of the Bronx Bombers.