 Alums
in Babylon
Lisa Kirk, Public Affairs and Publications
Three CSU, Chico alums found themselves working together during
Operation Iraqi Freedom this past spring. The three Marines were
part of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) staff at Camp Babylon,
near Al-Hillah, Iraq. Left to right: Col. Sean Metroka
(B.A., Geography, '81) served as fires coordinator until his release
in August; Maj. Tom Savage (B.A., History, '89) served as aide de
camp to the commanding general of the I MEF, a position he continues
to hold at Camp Pendleton, California; and Lt. Col. Willy Buhl (B.A.,
International Relations, '85) served as a G3 future planner.
Buhl is currently in command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines at
Camp Pendleton. Metroka, a reserves officer, says he felt like he
had found a “piece of home” in Iraq when he realized
his fellow Marines were also CSU, Chico alums. “We talked
about life in Chico and places we used to frequent, like The Bear,
The Grad, and LaSalles,” says Metroka. “We were very
busy during the war, but we often found a little time to reminisce
about Chico State.”
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