First Lieutenant Quammie Semper OC ’04 recently returned to the U.S. after a tour of duty in Iraq lasting from November 2006 to Feburary 2008. Semper, who graduated with a degree in sociology, spoke last week in West Lecture Hall regarding his experiences leading a platoon of 32 soldiers and escorting convoys in a war-torn Iraq.

Why did you want to talk about your experience at Oberlin?

I came to talk about my troops. I wanted to share my experience. I’m not here to talk about politics.

What did you do when you weren’t on mission?

I would give the soldiers time off. I would tell them to get away. I don’t want to see them, I don’t want them to see each other. Because you need that time to get your head back. Go watch a movie. Do something that they would normally do at home like sit in a bed and lay down.

How did you keep morale up among your troops?

That was a tough thing. You long for home sometimes. Sometimes we had barbecues. We tried to make it as normal as possible in the combat zone. We would play basketball, dominoes, cards, table tennis. Just try to relax.

What was it like being away from home and everyone you knew?

Just like everybody else: you don’t want to do it, but it has to be done sometimes. That’s how I looked at it.

How did you and your troops deal with the psychological stresses of being in a war?

Some of my soldiers came to talk to me. Some of them didn’t feel comfortable talking to me. There are programs for that. Usually I sent them to the chaplain. And that wasn’t about being spiritual, that was about talking. 

Have you changed since you left?

It’s harder being emotional. When I came home, my aunt and niece were there at the airport, and I was happy to be home, but it wasn’t like I was about to start crying. I think I’ve gotten better at reading people and knowing what they want from me.

What do you think is the most important thing you learned from Oberlin?

To be open-minded. Open to other people’s views, but still at the same time be a leader. I have to be able to say, “I understand your view, but we have to do it this way.”

What is your favorite memory of Oberlin?

All my classes. They challenge you to really think outside the box. That’s what you have to do. When I was deployed you have to think outside the box. That’s something that I took over there.

Do you feel like Oberlin was a big part of your life?

Yes, absolutely. Not only with sports, but I try to keep up with everything else.