Interview with Ian Jennings Abney, February 8, 2010

Interview Summary

Ian Abney joined the United States Marine Corps right after graduating from high school. He is a veteran of the Iraq War and a University of Kentucky Student. During Abney's service with the United States Marine Corps, Abney went on multiple deployments including a deployment to Fallujah. In this interview, Abney discusses why he joined the Marine Corps, his family's reaction to his enlistment, and his perception of Marines. He also describes his experiences in the service including boot camp, infantry training, and combat situations, particularly in the Anbar province of Iraq and with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In addition, Abney explains why he left the Marine Corps, his transition to a campus community, and the influence his experiences in the service have had on his course of study at the University of Kentucky.

Interview Keyword

bootcamp Fallujah From Combat to Kentucky Higher education Iraq invasion military specialization training transition

Interview LC Subject

Abney, Ian Abney, Ian--Interviews Anbar (Iraq : Province) College students--Kentucky--Interviews Counterinsurgency--Iraq Fallujah, Battle of, Fallujah, Iraq, 2004 Improvised explosive devices Military service, Voluntary--United States. United States. Marine Corps United States. Marine Corps--Infantry United States. Marine Corps--Military life University of Kentucky Veterans--Education (Higher)--Kentucky Veterans--Kentucky--Interviews

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.