As a member of the U.S. Navy, Charlene Kakimoto served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from January through June of 2003.

During her deployment, Charlene was Officer in Charge and Senior Medical Officer for Combat Service Support Battalion 12, a unit made up of more than 1,400 U.S. Marines.

Advancing through the desert from Kuwait to Baghdad, Charlene and members of her medical staff continuously set up camp to provide medical attention to wounded soldiers and Iraqi citizens.

Serving as part of a civil affairs unit, Charlene and her team also went into Iraqi villages to provide emergency medical treatment to the Iraqi people in an effort to earn their trust and provide them with much needed support.

Read More Hero Stories >