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Iraq 10 years later: Marine Sgt. Michael Timmons

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    Catching up with an American at the tip of the spear

  • Duration 2:42
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And al-Qaeda front group today claimed responsibility for yesterday's series of bombings in Iraq.

They killed 65 people it happened as the country marks the ten year anniversary of the American led invasion there.

Tonight senior correspondent Rick Leventhal continues his look back at the beginning catching up with one of the Americans at the tip of the spear.

When Marines for the third light armored reconnaissance battalion -- the very first shots on the ground in March 2003 destroying an Iraqi guard post it was sergeant Michael Timmons who climb the pole and snagged the colors.

Sergeant Timmons -- and the back of an armored vehicle rolling north towards Baghdad helping protect other troops.

Often digging fighting holes in the Iraqi desert.

-- -- -- -- He says -- fire death.

He grew up before in north Texas sometimes going without food or running water.

He joined the Marines fresh out of high school never really expecting to go to war but stayed cool under fire and shared cooking secrets during downtime help.

Can't take a -- -- water.

-- NATO and do too much bill but.

Today Timmons is a corrections officer at the Jordan lock up in Tampa Texas and a part time army national Guardsmen.

Do you have everything -- Iraq.

Not not so much anymore.

I can't get it just says.

You know -- a part of my past.

The Iraq War left marks on Timmons who says he was diagnosed with PT EST but claims no regrets and chokes us explaining why he -- I do on because I felt a lot of pride.

In my country.

And it's I felt that by joining.

That I can.

If I can get back.

You know to.

-- the country this provided me so much.

You know the freedoms that have and everything else needs to do there.

Sit down.

This peninsula and in no way.

I have -- the world Timmons says the greatest lesson learned is taking nothing for granted those are.

Things that I think about it.

Let me realize.

To be thankful for -- -- -- because I've been.

We've been asked to point out that normally the Texas department of corrections doesn't allow officers to grow beards.

But they made an exception for Timmons who needed for an overseas assignment with the National Guard unit.

He says he'll shave it off when he gets home from this shorter and what should be far less dangerous tour of duty.

-- our Rick thank you.

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