Paul Rieckhoff

Rieckhoff attended James I. O'Neill High School in Highland Falls, New York, and graduated from Amherst College in 1998 with a BA in political science. At Amherst, Rieckhoff was a varsity football and rugby player. He hosted a radio show on the college radio station WAMH-FM and was president of the student government.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Rieckhoff enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on September 15, 1998, and completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001ITPGH4|title=Paul Rieckhoff|publisher=Amazon|accessdate=May 12, 2011}} He then served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a specialist with the 812th Military Police Company. While working on Wall Street in 1999, Rieckhoff transferred to the New York Army National Guard. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in June 2001 and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. Rieckhoff selected infantry as his branch and joined A Company, 1-105th Infantry (Light).

In 2002, Rieckhoff volunteered for the invasion of Iraq. In January of that year, he was on a plane to join the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Rieckhoff was then assigned as a platoon leader in the 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} The unit was attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and spent almost a year conducting combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq.

Rieckhoff was awarded a United States Army Commendation Medal for his service in Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://thisainthell.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Rieckhoff-ARCOM.jpg|title=Army Commendation Medal, Paul Rieckhoff|website=Thisainthell.us|date=January 28, 2004|accessdate=July 29, 2012}}

In 2008, Rieckhoff and IAVA supported the passage of the "Post-9/11 (New) GI Bill". On February 7, 2007, he testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee to advocate for passage of the bill.{{cite web|url=https://veterans.house.gov/witness-testimony/paul-rieckhoff|title=Paul Rieckhoff|date=October 31, 2011|publisher=house.gov|accessdate=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112024029/https://veterans.house.gov/witness-testimony/paul-rieckhoff|archive-date=January 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}

On February 13, 2014, IAVA led the creation, passage and signing into law of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans (SAV) Act. The law was named after Marine CPL Clay Hunt, a sniper, IAVA member and personal friend of Rieckhoff and other IAVA leaders. Rieckhoff participated in a signing ceremony at the White House.{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/tenacity-wins-veterans-much-needed-help-398470723974|title=Tenacity wins veterans much-needed help for suicide prevention|publisher=msnbc.com|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

Rieckhoff has spoken in favor of veterans, including in conversation with former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/in-va-crisis-old-generals-deliberate-style-clashes-with-impatience-of-young-veterans/2014/05/26/c1bcaba8-e2bf-11e3-9743-bb9b59cde7b9_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Greg|last=Jaffe|title=In VA crisis, old general's deliberate style clashes with impatience of young veterans|date=May 26, 2014}}

Rieckhoff's book Chasing Ghosts is a criticism of the Iraq War and President George Bush.{{cite journal|url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2007/dec/20/iraq-the-hidden-human-costs|title=Iraq: The Hidden Human Costs|first=Michael|last=Massing|date=December 20, 2007|journal=The New York Review of Books}}

He has been a vocal advocate for gay rights and the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell", as well as reform of the military's sexual assault policies.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/broken-senate-delays-mili_b_4324969.html|work=Huffington Post|title=Broken Senate Delays Military Sexual Assault Reform|date=November 22, 2013}}

Although he has no experience with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) or their operations, and very little experience with combat operations in general, Rieckhoff criticized the film The Hurt Locker (2008), posting a piece in Newsweek titled "Veterans: Why 'The Hurt Locker' Isn't Reality"{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/veterans-why-hurt-locker-isnt-reality-75205|title=Veterans: Why 'The Hurt Locker' Isn't Reality|date=February 24, 2010|publisher=newsweek.com|accessdate=July 13, 2017}} and appeared on PBS Newshour to state his position.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z8bBDPnPUE&noredirect=1 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6Z8bBDPnPUE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Rieckhoff discusses The Hurt Locker|website=IraqNewsVids|date=March 4, 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Rieckhoff was a strong supporter of the controversial film American Sniper (2014), writing a review for Variety stating "American Sniper is the single best work of film about the Iraq War ever made."{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/opinion/a-veterans-view-of-american-sniper-guest-column-1201406349|work=Variety|first=Paul|last=Rieckhoff|title=A Veteran's View of 'American Sniper' (Guest Column)|date=January 16, 2015|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

In 2015, Rieckhoff appeared on Comedy Central's The Nightly Show to defend American Sniper as an effective public awareness tool for veterans causes.{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/rx3y2f/the-nightly-show-panel----american-sniper--debate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130015125/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/rx3y2f/the-nightly-show-panel----american-sniper--debate|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2015|title=Panel - "American Sniper" Debate-The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore - Video Clip|publisher=Comedy Central|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

After returning home from Iraq in 2004, Rieckhoff founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a "nonpartisan organization" which was dubbed "a veterans group with an uncharacteristic liberal bent and a business model that emphasizes online communities over traditional outreach" by The New York Times, for new veterans.{{cite web|author= |url=http://iava.org/about |title=About Us » Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America |website=Iava.org |date= 15 October 2014|accessdate=2017-07-14}}{{Additional citation needed|date=November 2020}} {{cite web |last1=Leo |first1=Shane |title=IAVA attracts the spotlight – and detractors |url=https://www.stripes.com/iava-attracts-the-spotlight-and-detractors-1.188171 |website=Stripes.com |publisher=Stars and Strips |access-date=26 July 2023}}

Rieckhoff has testified before Congress on issues facing the veterans community and writes regularly for national websites and publications. In August 2011, Rieckhoff and four other IAVA members appeared on the cover of Time magazine for a feature about Iraq and Afghanistan veterans being leaders of the "New Greatest Generation".{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Joe|title=The New Greatest Generation|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2089337,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819023619/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2089337,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2011|accessdate=August 2, 2012|newspaper=TIME|date=August 29, 2011}}

He was profiled by The Hill in June 2014 in a piece titled "From the battles of Iraq to those of DC".{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbyist-profiles/209558-from-the-battles-of-iraq-to-those-of-dc/|title=From the battles of Iraq to those of DC|first=Kristina|last=Wong|date=June 17, 2014|publisher=thehill.com}}

Rieckhoff wrote a book describing his experiences in Iraq and activism afterwards entitled Chasing Ghosts (2006).{{cite book|url=https://www.npr.org/books/titles/138349040/chasing-ghosts-a-soldiers-fight-for-america-from-baghdad-to-washintgon|title=Chasing Ghosts|year=2006|publisher=NPR.org|isbn=9780451218414|accessdate=July 13, 2017}} In 2006, Rieckhoff spoke to NPR's Fresh Air about the book.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5382507|title=Iraq Veteran Writes About 'A Soldier's Fight'|newspaper=NPR.org|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

Rieckhoff has produced four documentary films (Warrior Champions, Reserved to Fight, Jerabek and When I Came Home) and acted in Green Zone starring Matt Damon.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1833427|title=Paul Rieckhoff|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

Rieckhoff was inducted into the Global Ashoka Fellowship in 2010 as recognition of his innovation and entrepreneurship on behalf of new veterans.{{cite web|url=http://www.ashoka.org/fellows/paul_rieckhoff|title=Ashoka Fellows - Paul Rieckhoff|website=Ashoka.org|year=2010|accessdate=July 13, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706050039/http://www.ashoka.org/fellows/paul_rieckhoff|archivedate=July 6, 2010}}

A member of the American think tank Council on Foreign Relations, Rieckhoff is an advocate for Iraqi and Afghan refugees and interpreters and an advisory board member of The List Project, "a non-profit operating in the U.S., founded with the belief that the United States Government has a clear and urgent moral obligation to resettle to safety Iraqis who are imperiled due to their affiliation with the United States of America."{{cite web|url=http://thelistproject.org/about-the-list-project/advisory-board/|title=The List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies|accessdate=July 13, 2017|publisher=thelistproject.org}} He helped bring his former Iraqi translator Esam Pacha (who was targeted for assassination) to the US.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/leaving-friends-to-die-ab_b_66888.html|work=Huffington Post|title=Leaving Friends to Die: Abandoning Our Iraqi Interpreters|date=October 3, 2007|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

Named #37 of GQ's "50 Most Powerful People in D.C." in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/200911/50-most-powerful-people-in-dc#slide=37|title=The 50 Most Powerful People in DC|author1=Robert Draper|author2=Sarah Goldstein|author3=W.S. Hylton|author4=Mark Kirby|author5=Raha Naddaf|author6=Tory Newmyer|author7=Greg Veis|website=Gq.com|date=November 2009|accessdate=May 12, 2011}}

In 2012, Rolling Stone named Rieckhoff to its list of "The Quiet Ones: 12 Leaders Who Get Things Done".{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/pictures/the-quiet-ones-12-leaders-who-get-things-done-20120105/0742444|title=The Quiet Ones: 12 Leaders Who Get Things Done|date=5 January 2012|publisher=rollingstone.com|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

In 2013, Rieckhoff was named to "The Verge 50" list of "people that changed our lives" alongside leaders like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Marissa Mayer.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/a/the-verge-50/paul-rieckhoff|title=Paul Rieckhoff - The Verge 50|publisher=theverge.com|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

Rieckhoff was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Amherst College in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/news/specialevents/commencement/awards/2013_honorees/paul_rieckhoff_98|title=Paul Rieckhoff '98 - Amherst College|publisher=amherst.edu|accessdate=July 13, 2017}}

In 2016, Rieckhoff was elected to the New York State Senate Veteran's Hall of Fame for distinguishing himself both in military and civilian life.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/daniel-l-squadron/squadron-nominates-paul-rieckhoff-2016-senate-veterans-hall-fame|title = Squadron Nominates Paul Rieckhoff to 2016 Senate Veteran's Hall of Fame| work=NY State Senate |date = 20 May 2016}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017I0KWC Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier's Perspective] (NAL Caliber, 2007)
• "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706062041/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/celebrate-independence-helping-our-veterans_576016.html Celebrate Independence By Helping Our Veterans]" in The Weekly Standard, 4 July 2011.
• "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-nRXwoY-Yg&feature=player_embedded Paul Rieckhoff and Nick Colgin on vet unemployment]" on CNN, 5 August 2011.
• "[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/us/28veterans.html Cost of Treating Veterans Will Rise Long Past Wars]" in The New York Times, 27 July 2011.
• "[http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/06/13/who-are-you-calling-rambo.html Who Are You Calling Rambo?]" in Newsweek, 12 June 2009.
• "[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/opinion/25rieckhoff.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1312989911-Vce64a5+TOenhg8tT4nnAA Do Unto Your Enemy...]" in The New York Times, 25 September 2006.
• "[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/226805/may-05-2009/paul-rieckhoff Paul Rieckhoff on SupportOurTroops.org]" on The Colbert Report, 5 May 2009.
• "[http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/02/23/when-cin-ma-v-rit-isn-t.html When Cinéma Vérité Isn't]" in Newsweek, 23 February 2010.

• {{IMDb name|1833427}}
• {{C-SPAN|1032066}}

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